A Volunteer You Should Know

Francis Brand

Fran lives in Glen Ellyn and has been a very active member of NAMI DuPage for many years. Some interesting facts about Fran:  After high school she worked as a Stenographer then after completing 2 plus years of college Fran took 3 years of theology and specialty training to be a Director of Religious Education in the Galveston/Houston Diocese of the Catholic Church. For a few years Fran was a “stay at home mom.” While her children were young she began teaching and coordinating religious education classes for elementary school age children in Madison, WI.  Twenty-seven years later Fran retired after working as a fulltime director.

While not working or volunteering Fran is a Bridge enthusiast (5 Groups), also enjoys exercising, reading, music, current events, traveling, spending time with her husband, family and friends.  Fran was born and grew up on the north side of Chicago. She is the fifth child in a family of seven.  She has been married to Vince Brand for 55 Years who is also a NAMI member and occasional volunteer.  Fran and Vince have six children; 5 girls and 1 boy living in 5 different states.

Fran volunteers for NAMI DuPage because at least three generations of her family have suffered with mental illness including Fran’s mother (now deceased).  Very little help or support was available for either her mother or family; fortunately Fran had a caring father and the support of siblings.  Two members of Fran’s immediate family have had a problem with mental illness.  Fran says she cannot change her family, but she can and does try to reach a helping hand to families and loved ones, and help them understand this illness and the knowledge that treatment is available, and that there is hope for a brighter future.

Fran is a Support Group Facilitator who along with three other dependable and capable facilitators leads a support group the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. In 1997 Fran began helping in the NAMI office in whatever capacity was needed plus helping with statistics.  After taking the training to be a Support Group facilitator Fran began relieving the then current group of facilitators and eventually it evolved to the present day group.

Aside from all Fran does for NAMI  she has worked part time since 2002 as an administrative assistant for Crossroads Counseling in Winfield.  Plus there are a couple of other volunteer areas at her church and in the community that she has been participating in over the years.

Thank you Fran for all your hard work and dedication to NAMI DuPage over these many years and for all the people whose lives you have touched!