The LOSS OF A CHILD is unlike any other. The LOSS OF A LOVED ONE BY SUICIDE follows a close second.

When CHRISTOPHER took his life at the age of 15, our hearts—and the hearts of many in the community—BROKE.

By all accounts, those who knew Christopher described him as a SMART, SWEET BOY—always there to lend a hand and be a friend. Never would anyone have guessed that he was struggling.

And yet, that’s how MENTAL HEALTH works. There are NO RUNNY NOSES or NO FEVERS to signal an illness. No BRUISES or BROKEN BONES to pinpoint an injury. As in Christopher’s case, there were often NO EXTERNAL SIGNS of struggle or difficulties at all.

Many who battle mental health challenges have been conditioned by society to “STAY STRONG,” to keep it to themselves so as not to appear weak. Christopher was a KIND BOY, A SWEET BOY, A SMART BOY—but we now believe he was struggling and felt that he didn’t want to be a bother by seeking out help.

When Christopher left us, he left a GAPING HOLE in our lives. But he also left a MISSION—a PURPOSE for our family and community. That purpose is to SPREAD AWARENESS: to let others know that IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY.

It’s okay to ASK FOR HELP, and in doing so, one is SHOWING STRENGTH.

In 2022, The Christopher Newtown Memorial Fund, Inc. was started as a New York State 501(c)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT. Through the Fund, our family and friends are working to SHED LIGHT on the difficulties faced by our youth.

We PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY to share SUICIDE AWARENESS and provide opportunities for young people to develop POSITIVE PEER-TO-PEER and PEER-TO-ADULT RELATIONSHIPS.

Our goal is to ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO SEEK SUPPORT when they are struggling.

Please join us as we work to OFFER OPPORTUNITIES for the youth in our community to ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

If you have a SUGGESTION for an event or are seeking SUPPORT TO HOST AN EVENT OF YOUR OWN, please contact us.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.