Breaking the Chains Foundation
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Breaking The Chains Foundation

We focus on breaking the chains of mental health and body-image struggles. While providing artistic programming and services for those looking to “link” with others on their healthy mental and emotional wellness journeys.

We use the power of art and expression to provide programs, events, and services to build efficacy in the areas of mental health and body-image struggles, cancer, and eating disorders. Bringing tools, skills, and shared lived experiences to life.  Areas that address problematic social media use and negative mental health among youth and young adults, productions integrating dance with mind/body wellness principles, and unique beauty experiences for cancer survivors.

Online Social Media Literacy Youth Program

Cancer Survivors and Care Givers Program

Self Enrichment and Confidence Building Event

Live Performance

Storytelling Dance and Movement Experience

Live Stage Production

Movement Workshop For Connection and Renewal

IMPACT AND COMMUNITY

We believe that positive body image, health and self-love are all possible. We believe in full recovery.

RESOURCES/FAQs

BTCF produces all forms of art, events, outreach, and campaigns to support overall wellness.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Meet the amazing celebrities who support BTCF and how they encourage and inspire others to bring forth healing, self-love & recovery.

CELEBRITIES

Meet our monthly featured artist.

FEATURED ART

Welcome to our BTCF Community and join our mailing list and stay connected with us!

CONNECT

“Art speaks to our need to reveal, heal, and transform”

JOIN US

Finding Alice

Canvas of Culinary Arts

Health and Wellness Conversations

Community and Support

PROUD MEMBER OF

INSTAGRAM INSPIRATION

breakingthechainsfdn

Through the arts~we foster creativity, connections & communities to thrive; committed to the prevention of body-focused & mental well-being stigmas.
We are excited to welcome our new #BTCF Youth Amba We are excited to welcome our new #BTCF Youth Ambassador, Nicole Keledjian💜 At age of 21, Nicole has already dedicated nearly two decades to mastering the art of hip-hop dance. What began at age three evolved into a lifelong passion and a career spent sharing that love with others. Known for her dynamic teaching style and energetic choreography, Nicole creates a fun, inspiring environment for dancers to grow and express themselves. Nicole teaches hip-hop at @mihrankstudios in Burbank, CA. Her students range from ages 5 - 25+. Having been a trainee for so many years, Nicole is committed to nurturing her students’ unique talents and helping them fall in love with movement, just as she did! #dance #hiphop #choreography
We are thrilled to welcome our new #BTCF Youth Amb We are thrilled to welcome our new #BTCF Youth Ambassador Aria Parry💜 Aria has always had a passion for music and the arts. But she never thought her passion would connect with so many people, especially young people. Those who have experienced bullying and difficult interpersonal situations they are trying to navigate in their daily lives. “In going through these experiences personally, I realized bringing positive energy and empowering youth is how us young people are going to get through the challenges we all face. To build a community of leaders, grow in our talents, and support one another to reach our potential. And for me, it’s through music, performing and spreading good vibes through the arts and entertaining.” ~ Aria She works with “Girls Make Beats”, a non-for-profit organization that works towards empowering girls in communities to become the next generation of female leaders in music industry, and singing for “No Place for Hate” for schools, to connect and give back to the people of our community through music and positive collective energy. #youth #ambassador #singing #music
Thank you @chef_gason for bringing in the new year Thank you @chef_gason for bringing in the new year with your Strawberry White Chocolate Cookies! See recipe below😊 “Stay in the moment and trust the process” - Chef Gason #BTCF continues to team up with board member, Chef Gason to engage in culinary experiences that honors all aspects of food, from preparation to enjoyment. He believes that plating is a canvas for self-expression and creativity—there are no right or wrong ways to do it. The possibilities are endless! The aim is to have fun, create shared experiences, and make lasting memories with family and friends. Having purpose can be bold and exciting!💛 Moist Strawberry White Chocolate Cookies • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour • ½ teaspoon baking soda • ½ teaspoon salt • ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted & cooled • ¾ cup brown sugar • ¼ cup white sugar • 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk • 1 tablespoon buttermilk • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Flavor & Mix-Ins • ½ cup strawberry preserves (or chopped freeze-dried strawberries) • 1 cup white chocolate chips Start by mixing your melted butter with the brown sugar and white sugar until smooth and glossy. Add the egg, extra yolk, buttermilk, and vanilla. Just know that this is the key to that soft, moist center. In a separate bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet just until combined. Don’t over mix. Gently swirl in the strawberry preserves (don’t fully mix those strawberry pockets matter), then fold in the white chocolate chips. Chill the dough for 30–45 minutes. Trust me this step keeps the cookies thick, soft, and moist. Scoop onto a lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes. Centers should look slightly underbaked & that’s where the magic lives. Let them rest on the pan for 5 minutes, then move to a rack. Makes about 18 soft, moist cookies #tooeasy
A recap of 2025! We are truly grateful for the man A recap of 2025! We are truly grateful for the many opportunities and experiences we’ve had to meet and work with incredible communities on both the West Coast and East Coast. It has been amazing to connect with so many people at different stages in their lives and to share impactful experiences. We’ve had the chance to explore, create, enrich, learn, and have a lot of fun together! Let’s do it again💜 Wishing you all an amazing 2026! Happy New Year! Love, BTCF xo
Wishing you all joy, peace, and love this holiday Wishing you all joy, peace, and love this holiday season. May you cherish time with family, friends, and loved ones. We appreciate you! With love, the BTCF Team❤️
Happy Holidays! Join #BTCF board member @chef_gaso Happy Holidays! Join #BTCF board member @chef_gason as he prepares his flavorful dish of Redfish Almandine. Enjoy your family and friends during this time! Recipe below. Thank you, Chef! 🌟 Ingredients • 2–4 redfish fillets (or your favorite filets) • Salt & black pepper • Cajun seasoning (light) • ½ cup all-purpose flour • 4 tbsp butter • ¼ cup sliced almonds • 1 lemon (juice + wedges) • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped • Olive oil (as needed) How It’s Made 1. Season the fish with salt, pepper, and a light touch of Cajun seasoning. Dust lightly with flour, shaking off excess. 2. Pan-sear redfish in a hot skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat, skin-side down first. Cook 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and keep warm. 3. Make the almandine sauce: In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add sliced almonds and toast until lightly golden. 4. Finish the sauce with fresh lemon juice and parsley. Swirl the pan to bring it together. 5. Serve by spooning the almond-butter sauce over the redfish. Add lemon wedges on the side. ENJOY!! #tooeasy #cooking #chefgason #merrychristmas
#BTCF Featured Artists Atlee Feingold and Dee Wisn #BTCF Featured Artists Atlee Feingold and Dee Wisne 💜✨LINK IN BIO for full feature✨ Atlee Feingold has worked in TV and Film Production for over fifteen years. Working primarily on documentaries – Atlee has worked for some of TV biggest networks such A&E, Hulu, BBC and NBC to name a few. Her journey with disordered eating, eating disorders and body dysmorphia started at around ten years old. Now, after years of self-motivated healing, Atlee is proud to say she is fully recovered. She now resides in South Slope, Brooklyn with her partner, their two cats, and anxious rescue pup. They are so excited to welcome the newest member of their family, their beautiful baby girl! Dee Wisne is a Brooklyn-based documentary producer who has worked on films for HBO, NBC, and PBS. After struggling with binge eating and self-hatred for much of her adolescence, Dee found herself leading” self-love” clubs in high school and in college. Dee fights to remain healthy and grounded in an ever-thinner culture while centering her art on women’s stories. Today, she spends her free time performing improv comedy around the city and doesn’t mind taking up space. It was such a joy to chat to both of these creative, intelligent, and wonderful women about their animated film, NORMAL as well as their unique storytelling, lived experiences, inspirational messaging, empowering voices, life, and so much more! Thank you ladies! 💛💛 #film #art #recovery #journey
This is Part 3 of a 3-part series featuring our #B This is Part 3 of a 3-part series featuring our #BTCF youth ambassador, @alicianotsograceful . Alicia is a dedicated advocate who shares her personal experiences with OCD to connect and inspire others. In this post, she shares her tips, skills, and strategies for managing her OCD in her daily life. Stay tuned for more about Alicia and her advocacy in our “a Health and Wellness Conversations”. Thank you, Alicia, for sharing your journey with us! 💜 #btcf #youth #ambassador #ocd #tips #strategy #management
We are thrilled to welcome Tina Avedissian to our We are thrilled to welcome Tina Avedissian to our BTCF Advisory Board! 💜 Tina is the Founder and CEO of the gourmet artisan business, Tasty by Tina ~ @tastybytina ! Growing up, Tina’s kitchen was the heart of her home, and some of her favorite memories were the hours she spent by their sides, watching and learning. “Whether it was the perfect pinch of seasoning or the way they always seemed to know when something was done just by its smell, their passion for cooking wasn’t just a skill—it was an act of love.” Tina says that her mom and grandmother deserve the most credit for inspiring her journey with “Tasty by Tina”. They didn’t just teach her how to bake; they showed her how food can bring people together, how a homemade pie could light up someone’s face, and how a family recipe could carry stories and traditions. It’s that same love and care that Tina pours into everything she makes at Tasty by Tina. To her, baking isn’t just about the ingredients—it’s about creating moments that people will cherish Today, Tina channels that passion into creating artisanal “crisps”—delicious, seasoned baked tortillas that come in four unique flavors. These crisps are the perfect addition to elevate any charcuterie or grazing board, adding flavor, texture, and a touch of handmade charm to your spread. https://www.tastybytina.com/ #btcf #advisory #board #tastytina #artisan #crisps #health #wellness #baker #creator
Join #BTCF board member @chef_gason as he chats ab Join #BTCF board member @chef_gason as he chats about what it means to him to stop overthinking, have fun, and take control in nurturing areas of your life while he serves up a creative and flavorful dish. Thank you Chef! 🌟 #neworleans #chefgason #tooeasy #mentalhealth #cooking #creativity #btcf
🌟🎄🌟Thank you #BTCF Youth Ambassador @jordyncuret_ 🌟🎄🌟Thank you #BTCF Youth Ambassador @jordyncuret_ for representing #BTCF and sharing holiday joy for @homeagainlosangeles kid toys drive during the festive @theburbankchamber Holiday Mixer! We are so grateful for these community building events that the Burbank Chamber hosts and honored to be a chamber member!🌟🥰 #community #service #building #growth #support #nonprofit
This is Part 2 of a 3-part series featuring our #B This is Part 2 of a 3-part series featuring our #BTCF youth ambassador, @alicianotsograceful . Alicia is a passionate advocate with personal experience of OCD. In this post, she shares her story and raises awareness about OCD. Stay tuned for more informative and encouraging content. Thank you, Alicia, for sharing your journey with us! 💜 #ocd #ocdawareness #journey
We are excited to welcome Amy Kathleen Lee to our We are excited to welcome Amy Kathleen Lee to our BTCF Advisory Board! 💜 Amy is an award-winning eating disorder recovery advocate, former pre-professional classical ballet dancer, inspirational speaker, and suicide prevention specialist. She is the owner of a speaking and training business, “Speaking From The Scars”, and her dance passion project, “Dancing With ED”. She has worked in mental health education and suicide prevention for over ten years, specializing in youth mental health. Amy is also a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in clinical social work. A suicide, trauma, and eating disorder survivor herself, Amy brings lived experience, empathy, and authenticity to every space she enters. She has been heard by over 5,000 young people across the Southwest and speaks nationally for schools, colleges, and conferences. https://www.amykathleenlee.com/ #suicideprevention #mentalhealthawareness #eatingdisorder #advocate #btcf #advisory #board
This is Part 1 of a 3-part series featuring our #B This is Part 1 of a 3-part series featuring our #BTCF youth ambassador, @alicianotsograceful , a passionate advocate with lived experience of OCD. We are grateful for her willingness to share her journey. In this post, Alicia offers valuable insights to raise awareness about OCD. Stay tuned for more informative and inspiring content, along with her personal story to follow. Thank you, Alicia💜 #ocd #ocdawareness #journey
We are thrilled to welcome our new #BTCF Youth Amb We are thrilled to welcome our new #BTCF Youth Ambassador Alicia Mitas💜! Alicia is a New York City based content creator (on Tik Tok and Instagram under the username @alicianotsograceful ) and writer featured in USA Today. Her content niche is in the realms of film and TV, as well as OCD and body positivity. She started her Tik Tok account because her OCD and anxiety lead her to have difficulty going out and being away from home. And with a lot of solitude, started to spend her time filming and posting. Her Greek American family being in the entertainment industry sparked her love for those topics, so she posted comedic videos about her favorite franchises. She gained both a following and community amongst film lovers, industry professionals and other mental health creators. Alicia’s content success has lead her to partner with major film studios such as Lionsgate, Netflix, Marvel, Focus Features, and Sony Pictures, where creating successful content for their works has lead her to attends their events and walk their carpets. Her most recent partnership with Sony Pictures was for the film “A Big Bold and Beautiful Journey”, a film starring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie. Sony Pictures featured her on their pages for their sponsored ads and had her film and ad herself for her page. She has also partnered with Child Mind Institute based in New York, where she completed their outpatient program for OCD treatment. Alicia had a brand deal with Presently Bracelets, a jewelry company that has been featured in Forbes and endorsed by Selena Gomez’ mental health company, Wondermind. #btcf #youth #ambassador #writer #content #creator #ocd #advocate #health #wellness
#BTCF Health and Wellness Conversations ~ A young #BTCF Health and Wellness Conversations ~ A young actress shares her journey of overcoming struggles to find the rainbow after the storm. Facilitated by Krista Stryker @12minuteathlete, NSCA-CPT, Author, BTCF Board with guest @kaydentokarski , Actress and BTCF Youth Ambassador 💜 These conversations highlight the stories of #BTCF team members, partners, and friends and how these stories can help to inspire others and enrich our lives. #actress #selfconfidence #selfesteem #joy #healing #journey #btcf #youth #ambassador
🧡BTCF Board Member, Chef Gason’s Spatchcock Cornis 🧡BTCF Board Member, Chef Gason’s Spatchcock Cornish Hen with Rosemary, Whole Garlic & Butter Chef Gason is sharing one of his favorite Thanksgiving dishes for anyone cooking for themselves or for friends and family.💛 What you will need: 1–2 Cornish hens 4 tbsp softened butter 6–8 whole garlic cloves, smashed 1 tbsp chopped rosemary 2 tbsp olive oil Your seasoning blend Salt & pepper Optional: smoked paprika How it’s made: 1. Spatchcock the hen: Remove backbone, flatten, and pat dry. 2. Make butter: Mix butter, rosemary, 2–3 smashed garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and seasoning blend. 3. Season: Rub butter under and over the skin. Season all over. Scatter remaining whole garlic cloves with a little olive oil. 4. Roast: Bake at 350°F for 35–45 min, basting once. Cook to 165°F. 5. Finish: Rest 5–10 minutes and spoon roasted garlic + pan juices over the top. ENJOY! #chefgason #tooeasy #neworleans #chef #btcf #board #member #nonprofit
We are thrilled to welcome Brenda Lionas to our BT We are thrilled to welcome Brenda Lionas to our BTCF Advisory Board! 💛 Brenda Lionas is an award-winning tennis professional and coach who teaches privately at the prestigious Novi Athletic Club in Novi, Michigan, as well as the Girls Varsity Tennis Coach at Northville High School. Under her leadership, the Northville High School Girls Tennis Team became the 2025 Division 1 State Champions. She also serves on the executive board of D3W Industries, Inc. She has received numerous accolades for her coaching, including Assistant Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2019. Her dedication to the sport earned her the title of Regional Coach of the Year in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, she was also honored as the Division 1 State Coach of the Year and Michigan High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Sports have always played a significant role in her life. Brenda graduated from Tecumseh High School, where she excelled as a three-sport athlete in basketball, volleyball, and softball. After high school, she attended Eastern Michigan University, where she played softball. Since 2001, Brenda has been teaching tennis at the Novi Athletic Club to children and adults of all ages and skill levels. In addition to her tennis instruction, she ran the youth summer program for 18 years. At Novi Athletic Club, Brenda learned the importance of encouragement and self-esteem in children, shaping her coaching philosophy. She focuses on recognizing each child’s unique abilities to build confidence and believes sports foster community. By celebrating efforts and progress, she aims to enhance her players’ tennis skills, instill a sense of family, and teach resilience for life. In addition to her coaching expertise, she specializes in administration and management, education and instruction, coaching, and organizing special events. Brenda is a proud wife, mother of four children, and recently became a grandmother to a beautiful baby girl. #btcf #advisory #board #nonprofit
Thank you, John Muir Middle School, for inviting B Thank you, John Muir Middle School, for inviting BTCF Youth Ambassadors @kaydentokarski and @audenwyle to lead fun and positive art and wellness activities during your Mental Health Event Day! They thoroughly enjoyed spending this interactive and uplifting time with all of your students!! Thank you, girls for representing #btcf on this wonderful day💜💜! #btcf #youth #ambassadors #burbank #california #community #outreach #arts #wellness
Adding some “How To Love Yourselfie” on the east c Adding some “How To Love Yourselfie” on the east coast @artcrawlfl 2025💕 Thank you so much for having us share our booth for the day ~ it was a blast! Wonderful to be apart of this creative community during Arts & Health Week shared by @watsonclinicfoundation 🤩 #artsandhealthweek #artcrawl #btcf #arts #wellness #community #partner
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©2023 Breaking The Chains Foundation. All rights reserved Breaking the Chains Foundation Tax ID - 47-2419843, 501 © (3), Nonprofit
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