Someday Melissa

Someday Melissa, Inc. is a United States-based nonprofit organization established in 2010 dedicated to promoting early awareness and understanding of eating disorders. The organization was founded by Judy Avrin in memory of her daughter, Melissa Avrin, who struggled with an eating disorder and passed away from its complications.

History and Mission

Following the death of her daughter Melissa, Judy Avrin created Someday Melissa to honor Melissa's life and legacy. The nonprofit focuses on increasing public recognition and awareness of eating disorders, which affect more than 24 million Americans. The name "Someday Melissa" comes from Melissa’s personal journal writings where she described her hopes and dreams for "someday" when she would be healthy again. Avrin endeavored to break the silence and stigma around eating disorders by sharing Melissa’s story, including through a documentary film titled Someday Melissa, the Story of an Eating Disorder, Loss and Hope. This film was co-produced by Avrin, eating disorder specialist Danna Markson, LCSW, and director Jeffrey Cobelli.

Programs and Impact

Someday Melissa employs educational outreach through screenings of the documentary and associated materials designed to raise awareness and provide resources for prevention and early intervention. The film has been screened widely across the United States and internationally, with the DVD distributed in nearly 20 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and more. The organization also provides toolkits for event planning to facilitate responsible community screenings, aiming to minimize triggers and promote supportive conversations around the topic of eating disorders.

Financials

According to publicly available records from 2014, Someday Melissa reported a revenue of approximately $2,720 and expenses of about $2,850, with total assets of $1,500 and no liabilities at that time.

Significance

Someday Melissa serves as a potent example of using personal tragedy to drive social change and education. By fostering awareness and understanding about eating disorders, the organization contributes to early diagnosis and support for individuals at risk, helping to combat an often misunderstood illness.

Note: Someday Melissa is registered under EIN 271746117.

[1] https://illumira.com/vendor/someday-melissa-inc/ [2] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/271746117 [3] https://www.rutgers.edu/news/someday-melissa-story-eating-disorder-loss-and-hope-be-screened-rutgers-university-march-5 [4] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/271746117/201541809349200504/full [5] https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/SomedayMelissa_ScreeningToolkit.pdf