ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – A local restaurant has reached a fundraising milestone, donating nearly $70,000 to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, bringing its total contributions to more than $450,000 for mental health awareness.Whistle Binkies raised the funds through a series of events over the course of a year, including a Bloody Mary bar, a golf tournament and an anniversary party.The donated funds go toward free programs and resources for those impacted by mental illness.“If you need support from NAMI, it’s here for you. You don’t have to have a certain diagnosis; you don’t have to have money in your pocket. You walk in the door and we’re here to help you. We absolutely can’t do that work without this kind of support,” said Megan Toney, a former executive director for NAMI.In addition to providing community resources, NAMI works to eliminate the stigma of mental illness and advocates for increased funding for research into the causes and treatment of mental illness.Find stories like this and more, in our apps.Copyright 2026 KTTC. All rights reserved.
