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On Thursday, May 9, 2019, over 500 people gathered in Philadelphia for the fourth annual A Celebration of Life: Philadelphia. Led by an all-volunteer committee of Minding Your Mind’s Young Professionals Board and friends, this year’s event was the most well-attended and charitable to date, with all proceeds funding mental health education and suicide prevention programs in the greater Philadelphia region. Chairperson Matt Robinson welcomed attendees and discussed the history of Minding Your Mind as well as the purpose of A Celebration of Life. He presented the 2019 Emerging Minds Award to Jessica Griffin and Tim Griffin of The Be Kind. Always. Foundation. Established in memory of their younger brother, Stephen, who lost his life to depression at the age of 19, The Be Kind. Always. Foundation works to promote kindness among youth through schools and community activities. The profits from their clothing line, D.O.P.E. Dare to Offer Peace to Everyone, fund programs that focus on ending the stigma surrounding mental health issues and suicide.
Those gathered spent the remainder of the evening dancing to music from The International DJ Casper and celebrating life.
Kyle Craig
A Celebration of Life began in 2011 to honor the memory of Kyle Craig, a 21-year-old student at Vanderbilt University who took his life in May of 2010. Kyle was a dynamic friend to many; a bright, handsome, and gifted individual across music and athletics, but whose strength of character enabled his growing struggles to be hidden from view. In the nine years since it began in Nashville, this annual event has expanded to New York and Philadelphia, engaging more than 3,000 young professionals in the service of suicide prevention and mental health awareness. For more information on A Celebration of Life: Philadelphia or the Minding Your Mind Young Professionals Board, please contact Maura Wheeler at maura@mindingyourmind.org.
