12/18/2025
Mental Health America of Dutchess County
Statement Regarding Community Event Support
Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA) has long supported community traditions that bring joy and relief to families in need. Our contributions have always been directed toward making these events successful for the community—providing candy for Easter Egg Hunts attended by hundreds of families, food for Thanksgiving baskets that benefit countless individuals including many of our clients, and gifts for Santa events that allow children to experience the magic of the holidays when their families might otherwise struggle to afford presents. We also support our local free youth flag and tackle football leagues.
Our mission has always been to strengthen, support, and uplift our community. These events have been a blessing to witness—seeing children smile, families gather, and joy spread during times that can be difficult for many.
However, recent developments have placed us in a deeply conflicted position. Frankie Flowers, who has organized the Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas events, has become an increasingly polarizing figure due to repeated allegations of assault, troubling communications, and a history of protective orders and charges by woman who alleged to have been abused by him. While he has never been convicted, the pattern of accusations and public discourse surrounding these matters makes any association with his events appear to disregard the voices of victims of domestic violence. That is absolutely not the case and I personally apologize to anyone who felt that the MHA logo on a Frankie Flowers event minimized or negated any trauma they may have endured, whether by Frankie Flowers or anyone for that matter. Too often, a woman is afraid to come forward for many reasons, one being that they will not be believed and the alleged abuser would not be held accountable.
MHA works every day to support survivors—women and men alike—and we remain steadfast in that commitment. These accusations have persisted for many years, and over the years many have expressed concern about affiliating with Mr. Flowers. I personally chose to continue to support these events despite the concerns brought to me, not because I ignored his legal issues but because I saw the good those events do. Until now, our involvement was focused solely on ensuring these three community events continued to serve those in need.
Going forward, MHA will no longer support events associated with Frankie Flowers. Instead, we will explore new ways to bring joy to children and families during Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—upholding our mission while ensuring that our partnerships reflect the values of safety, respect, and compassion.
We appreciate the community’s understanding and continued support as we take this step to align our actions with our principles.
This statement is issued by:
Andrew O’Grady, CEO
Mental Health America of Dutchess County
