Second Wind Fund is such an amazing organization with such an important mission. I applaud their work and the positive influence they are having on their clients and the community.
What an awesome organization! Second Wind Fund has been filling a need by helping youth at risk of suicide for 15 years! I know from personal experience how hard it can be to pay for mental health services AND to find a great therapist. What is unique about this organization, is that it not only pays for therapy for kids at risk of suicide, but they also have their own network of licensed therapists across Colorado that specialize in working with youth. This organization saves lives! Keep up the good work!
Review from Guidestar
My daughter took her life in 2006. About a year later I found Second Wind Fund. My volunteer experience has played an integral part in my healing process. I have since talked with school counselors who have told me about the role that Second Wind has had in the lives of their students. Second Wind Fund saves lives, not only for the young people that receive services, but also for their families that will not have to go through the pain and suffering that many of us have. This organization saves lives and promotes healing! I have included a photo, not of Second Wind Fund, but of the daughter that I wish had found Second Wind before it was too late. Thank you for all you do!
The mission of Second Wind Fund, Inc. is to decrease the incidence of teen suicide nationally by removing financial and social barriers to treatment for at-risk youth and to create a network of local affiliates to provide such services in their own communities. Second Wind Fund currently has 9 affiliates in CO covering 80% of the state's youth. To date, these affiliates collectively have had over 2800 referrals for kids who need our life-saving services. To our knowledge, these kids are all still alive!
One in four youth will have more than passing thoughts of suicide in any given year, and suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens. On average, it takes less than five therapy sessions to move most youth away from considering suicide as a viable option. The Second Wind Fund program provides at least eight sessions to each youth referred to the program, ensuring that all youth, regardless of financial constraints, are provided the opportunity to receive life-saving therapy.
Second Wind Fund Inc. wants to take root in every state, every community nationwide. Please help us!
We all hope that “somebody will do something about that.” Whatever “that” happens to be. When I first heard about Second Wind and what those passionate people had accomplished in curtailing youth suicide, I was happy that somebody was doing something about that. But I when I learned about how successful Second Wind was every day, I knew I just had to get involved. I could become that “somebody” who was truly doing something about that. Second Wind has gone beyond making us aware of the problem of youth suicide, studying its causes, garnering public support, and gathering funds to fight the problem. Second Wind has actually, tangibly, efficiently and effectively established program that has saved over 2,000 young lives in just six years on a budget so modest that it would embarrass most national organizations. So I joined Second Wind because a young life lost to suicide diminishes each of us and makes our world just a little bit less joyous, complete, and loving. I’m proud to be a part of a community that Second Wind has impacted, and to know that every dollar I raise pays out in the laughs, smiles, contribution, and extended love that saving a young life brings.
Thia is a truly amazing organization that unselfishly raises money to help t-risk youth get free access to counseling for suicide. THEY SAVE LIVES. Every child that has gone through the system is still alive today, and did not take their own lives. Anyone can help this organization by donating money to help save lives!
The Second Wind Fund is a true grassroots success story. A few people responded to a tradgedy with a heartfelt question, "What can we do to make a difference?" Those few people and that one question has now led to a unique program to reduce teen suicide that is expanding across the country. I have been consistently impressed with the vision and dedication of the staff and those who are involved with the organization. I have rarely seen an organization that can show so directly the impact it is having - saving the lives of teens from suicide. With over 2,500 kids served and demand for the program to be replicated all over the country, this is an organization that needs and deserves to grow.
After my oldest son, Miles, shot and killed himself in October of 2007, I understand much more the importance of accessible counseling for youth. The Second Wind Fund delivers over and over again to help save depressed and suicidal youth’s lives and create with them a life worth living. I have witnessed the fear and lack of hope in other communities devastated by youth suicide where effective counseling is not practically available. I believe so much in what Second Wind is doing, I am training for my first ever marathon race to help fund the expansion of Second Wind's services.
On January 24th 2008 my husband found our son of 30 years dead by his own hands. There was no indication that he was suffering from depression or any illness. He left behind two little girls and of course his parents and his only brother. I still have a hard time beleving that it is real. I sought out groups to work with to help prevent this escalating tragedy. I am so proud to be involved with such a wonderful program and to be able to see the good works they are doing to help our teens in Montrose, Colorado. Any consideration that you would give to the program would be greatley appreceaited. Sincerely, Darlene Nation
Imagine that your child, your nephew, your granddaughter, suddenly ended his or her life. As hard as you may try, and as empathetic as you may be, you cannot imagine the pain unless it has happened to you! No child should be gone before his Mom and Dad, especially by their own hand. A wonderful mother and personal friend had this happen. Her son was a good kid. He and his Mom enjoyed many happy experiences together. One day he was gone, by his own hand. Nobody to this day knows why. I suspect he had pain he did not want to burden his mother with. I speculate that there were no personal acquaintances he felt he could share his misgivings with. But suspicions and speculations are of little use.... because he is gone. If there had been counseling such as SWF provides access to, this young man would likely be a person who got past the troubles he thought were insurmountable. We will never know, but we do know that the young people who HAVE found a knowledgable and sympathetic ear through SWF are still alive! Help!
What is one life worth? Second Wind is dedicated to saving the lives of at risk teens. I have been an adviser/supporter of Second wind for a decade. I value the work they do to raise money to insure that at risk high school kids can get the counseling they need to prevent the horrific tragedy of their taking their own lives. To know that such an agency exists to which school, churches, synagogues and mosques can refer our precious children is reassuring, especially in these days of economic stress in our communities. I hope and pray and will work to underwrite the efforts of the Second Wind Fund so that they will go from strength to strength. For, he saves a single life is as though he had saved an entire universe.
I first heard about 2WF when we started a new church in the community. We heard about the tragic suicides at a local high school and how this fund was set up to make a difference. That's the bottom line - 2WF makes a difference - they literally save lives! By helping kids at risk for suicide to get the counseling they need at their time of crisis - 2WF stops suicide. And we at Faith Mountain are huge supporters of 2WF!!! As a pastor, I have referred at risk kids. I know first hand the crucial life-and-death nature of the help being provided by 2WF. This program has saved lives in every community where it operates - it should be avaliable in EVERY community in the nation, in the world! There is no reason we can't wipe out youth suicide - all we need to do is help 2WF spread this wonderful program all over the world. Join the mission to end youth suicide. Support the Second Wind Fund! Blessings, Pastor Mark Aalund
I reconnected with the head of this organization that I was very close to in high school and was introduced to the cause. I immediately embraced it. Having been raised by a psychologist I was very inspired by the vision to get kids help fast. I have teens and watch every day the dilemmas they face. We are fortunate to have coverage available but there are so many who are not. It is such a worthy and truly lifesaving organization led by people who honestly care about the kids one at a time and struggle daily with finding funding to get them the help they need.
Second Wind Fund is a truly inspiring organization. It says something very important, I think, that an organization that is so closely connected to particular communities garners volunteers from across the nation -- because we all see that SWF is doing something truly special. In a time when fewer and fewer people can afford adequate health care, SWF is directly ensuring that our vulnerable young people have access to care when they need it most. It has been an honor for me to be a small part of making such a big difference.
I was exposed to SWF through a friend seeking help with grant writing. I have since joined their volunteer grant writing team, and through those efforts, I have learned what a novel and effective approach they are taking to help suicidal youth, and also been impressed with the significant impact they have had thusfar.
Second Wind Fund provides suicidal youth with no insurance for mental health counseling the life-saving services that they so urgently need, for free. Over the past year I've volunteered with SWF to create and execute a grant writing and management strategy so that we can secure the funding we need to expand our services around the country and help thousands more teens at risk for suicide. I know from the data I've seen that communities where SWF has served the most kids have seen a dramatic decrease in youth suicide rates. Each and every community around our country can use these services for their young people. A young life saved, a community uplifted.
The mission of Second Wind Fund, Inc. is to decrease the incidence of teen suicide nationally, by removing financial and social barriers to treatment for at-risk youth and to create a network of local affiliates to provide such services in their own communities. I became involved after my 17-year old daughter took her life. It was important for me to know that I could make a difference in reducing the risk for others. One affiliate has already provided referals to over 1,800 kids...1800 kids who are alive today. It can be as simple changing the culture so that it's ok to ask for help...and that help must be available. The Second Wind fund has been working to reduce the stigma around asking for help and is gaining the support of the communities it serves for the financial support so any kid can get help when they most need it. "A Young Life Saved...A Community Uplifted"
I love teenagers and all that they can become with a little direction and help. Second Wind Fund provides almost immediate access to licensed mental health counselors that help these kids get through that tunnel that most go through. As they get help sorting things out they can begin to see what they can become. It is life giving and instills a passion for anyone that connects to Second Wind.
I met the Executive Director, Jeff Lamontagne, at the Angel Capital Summit in 2009. He was seeking new donors, board members and volunteers to help grow the organization. I arranged an introductory discussion, which was followed by an in-depth review of the structure of the organization and the documents the team has assembled to guide its' growth and the activities of its' regional affiliates. Based upon the deep professionalism I found, I was convinced I wanted to be involved in accelerating the geographical market coverage across the USA and beyond in the months and years to come. The Second Wind Fund is on its way to becoming a top charity that will devote a high percentage of its' donations to carrying out its' mission.