Parker Strong for Suicide Prevention and Education

What is the core mission of your organization? Parker Strong is dedicated to the prevention of suicide through awareness, education, community outreach and help for those left behind. We also provide “HOPE” benches across our community for people to gather and talk about mental health in a beautiful environment.

How do you measure impact and success in your programs? There are hundred of people at this point that have received our help through education, financial help, community outreach and prevention efforts and we are fortunate to hear those stories of success by saving lives.

What are your biggest fundraising or outreach challenges? Planning and executing our biannual fundraiser requires a significant amount of funds in the front end to get a venue, catering, security, and all the other expenses associated with a large fundraiser. 2026 is our year to have our event and we need donations or auction items, financial donations and people to help facilitate moving forward. The 2024 fundraiser help 411 people so a large venue is best for our event. The prior year we had 370 in attendance. I love that we are growing year after year but that requires a large space and a large up front outflow of cash to have our event. We also have a large budget for our benches which are a major expense for our organization.

How do you build long-term relationships with donors and supporters? We are blessed with long term supporters throughout our community and beyond. Almost everyone you talk to has in some way been affected by suicide and it is a great way to give back for the community.

What trends are influencing the nonprofit world today? The more the nation is in crisis the more suicide rates increase. Unfortunately, there are no real parameters for those affected by suicide and thus we keep moving forward to help all those we can.

Can you share a story that shows your mission in action? A man I didn’t know happened to be in town from out of state about a month ago for a job interview. He decided to go out for a short jog and he decided he needed to stop and rest for a moment. He looked up and saw one of the Parker Strong red benched up ahead at the park. He walked up and read the information about Parker Strong and sat down and wept. He wept and prayed because not only was he struggling but he lost his brother to suicide 9 years prior. He ended up contacting me and let me know that the Parker Strong bench did exactly what it was supposed to do. He found a place to rest, pray, and focus on his mental health in that moment. He is here today because he reached out.

What keeps you motivated in this work? In 2018 I lost my 23 year marriage. 30 days into a surprise divorce I lost my dad. 28 days later I lost my 16 year old son Parker to suicide. So in 90 days I lost my marriage, my dad and my son. I was about to take my own life and made one last phone call. My best friend answered the phone and begged me to stay. She got me the help I needed. I was laying in bed one day fully awake and I heard the Lord say, “Camile, are you a victim or a survivor?” I said, “I am a survivor.” The Lord said, “then get up and go forward.” It is my calling to help those in need and those left behind try and not walk this path of losing a loved one. I will continue my fight against this epidemic for as long as humanly possible. I truly feel this is my calling from the Lord Himself.