Our Mission:
The Spread the Love Foundation strives to prevent teen suicide by educating students and adults on coping skills and social and emotional intelligence necessary to living in the 21st century.
Suicide is a silent epidemic in this country: someone chooses to take their own life every 12.3 minutes. It is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24. We must remove the stigma of suicide, as not simply an act, but a culmination of mental illness, trauma, and a lack of resources for living in the 21st century. Suicide is a disease that is only growing because of these influences.
If this were a physical disease stealing our children, we would be racing to find a cure. What then, can we do to stop this ever-escalating cause of death? We must make a societal effort to meet the needs of our children. Their foundation for growth is not only in the hands of their family, but MUST be in the hands of our community and schools as well. We must teach children how to behave, react, cope and socialize appropriately. No longer can we turn a blind eye, pretend it doesn’t exist, sympathize with families who have lost loved ones, and move on with our hectic, unmanageable lives. The over stimulated, over medicated, under exercised, malnourished and incredibly disconnected kids of today are our future. Today’s society is unable to support what they need to become well-rounded, productive adults. We must acknowledge this and act accordingly. Wouldn’t it be better if our children learned manners, respect, kindness, integrity, awareness, and compassion before they start raising the next generation? This is the purpose of the Spread the Love Foundation: to make a lasting change. A change that will not only boost the self esteem of our youth and increase awareness about mental illness and suicide, but reduce the terrible tragedy that many families have to endure; the horror of losing a child to suicide. By supporting us, you are a stakeholder in our future and the future of our children.
About Sami:
Samantha Coburn tragically took her life on August 14, 2014 at the age of 19. Spread the Love was founded by her mother and sister to honor and emulate the life Sami lived. Loving, caring, and kind, Sami exhibited exceptional qualities. It was her goal to work with Special Needs children. Sami is loved and missed by many, but through this program, her spirit lives on.