Douglaston Teen's Nonprofit Helps Youths with Eating Disorders

At age 19, Douglaston’s Kristina Saffron is not only celebrating her acceptance to one of the nation’s most prestigious schools, but also the third anniversary of a nonprofit she co-founded that has raised more than $100,000 for young people in need.

Saffron recently wrapped up her first year at Vanderbilt University, but will transfer this fall to Harvard University, where she will study psychology.

This spring marked the third year anniversary of Project HEAL (Help to Eat, Accept and Live), a not-for-profit organization that Saffron founded with Liana Rosenman and Becky Allen.

The girls decided to launch the program after they underwent treatment for eating disorders.

“We recovered together and we had seen first-hand people who were not getting treated or relapsing,” Saffron said.

Three years after its launch, the nonprofit is in the process of hiring a public relations firm and enlisting interns, who will assist with research and social media initiatives.

“We have 35 high schools we return to yearly and we’re adding to that,” Saffron said. “We’ve raised a little more than $120,000 and sent four people to treatment. We didn’t think we’d reach these heights. It’s been amazing.”

Project HEAL’s scholarships are for $30,000 per person, which covers the entire cost of treatment for anorexia and a variety of other eating disorders.

“Our goal is awareness as well as promoting a positive body image and self esteem,” Saffron said.

The nonprofit raises money through annual fundraisers, private donations, bake sales and grants. This year’s largest fundraiser will be a brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 14 at Farmingdale’s Carlysle on the Green.

Saffron said applicants for the nonprofit’s scholarships have been both males and females of varying ages. Its recipients hail from New York, California, Arizona, North Carolina and Philadelphia.

In addition, Saffron and Rosenman have taken part in speaking engagements across the state as well as in Pennsylvania and at Princeton University. Last fall, Project HEAL received an award for health advocacy at Long Island’s Kids In Action Annual Youth Conference.

One of the nonprofit’s goals for the future is offering more services to the parents of youths with eating disorders, Saffron said.

“We are currently expanding our network of parents, who often struggle more than the person with the disorder,” she said.

In September, Saffron will head off to Harvard, where she will major in psychology. She is considering whether she will eventually go into clinical psychology and open her own practice.

Click here for more information on Project HEAL’s upcoming fundraiser, which will cost $75 per person, or email projectheal.ed@gmail.com.