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More Than a Fundraiser: CKLF’s Commitment to Youth Mental Health

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Industry

Nonprofit/Charity

Challenge

After the tragic loss of a close friend to suicide in 2022, a group of friends and their community were left searching for ways to process their grief and identify the warning signs they might have missed. They sought a way to honor their friend’s legacy by addressing the deep-seated stigma surrounding male mental health and depression.

Results

By partnering with Erika’s Lighthouse, the Christian Kebr Legacy Foundation established an inclusive, high-impact fundraising event that transforms personal tragedy into life-saving awareness. Their efforts now provide critical resources to help students normalize conversations about mental health and access the support they need earlier in life.

Products Impacted

Classroom Education, Empowerment Club, Family Engagement

www.cklegacyfoundation.org/
1.3 M
Students Impacted Annually
3,400
Schools Supported
$2
Per Student
1411%
Program Growth Since 2019

I wish my high school had talked about the importance of mental health as it would have given me courage to have open discussions in my own life much earlier.

Glenn West

Co-Founder, Christian Kebr Legacy Foundation

Case Study Profile Template (1)

About The Christian Kebr Legacy Foundation

The Christian Kebr Legacy Foundation was established to honor the life of a young man described as one of the "brightest lights in the room." Led by Glenn West and Ryan Thayer, the foundation focuses on raising awareness for youth mental health and providing others with the resources Christian’s friends wish they had known about sooner.

A Personal Mission: Why CKLF Champions Mental Health 

For Glenn and Ryan, 26-year-olds based in Chicago, the fight for mental health awareness is deeply personal. The path to Erika’s Lighthouse began with a devastating event in late 2022: the loss of a close friend to suicide. Christian was known for his goofy personality and constant laughter, making his sudden death even more difficult for his friends to comprehend. They were left with haunting questions about what warning signs they might have missed and what more could have been done.

They realized that a significant roadblock to seeking help is the persistent stigma surrounding mental illness, particularly among young men. This realization led them to Erika’s Lighthouse, whose mission to start conversations early and normalize mental health struggles aligned perfectly with their desire to fulfill Christian’s legacy. 

Implementation: Bringing Light to the Dark  

The partnership between the Christian Kebr Legacy Foundation and Erika’s Lighthouse focuses on "going upstream." By supporting Erika’s Lighthouse’s Four Pillar Philosophy, the foundation helps provide classroom education, empowerment clubs, and family engagement tools to school districts at zero cost. These programs empower students to recognize signs of depression in themselves and their peers, providing them with the vocabulary to speak up before a crisis occurs. 

From Passion to Action: A Winning Fundraising Strategy 

CKLF’s strategy for success is rooted in inclusivity and clarity of mission. The foundation hosts ongoing events in Christian’s honor that prioritize engagement over athleticism, ensuring that anyone—regardless of age or physical ability—can participate. By creating a "fun and inclusive" atmosphere, Glenn and Ryan have been able to keep supporters engaged with the cause while simultaneously educating them.

The foundation has been honored to have Erika’s Lighthouse staff speak at their events, bridging the gap between fundraising and direct impact. This collaboration ensures that every dollar raised goes directly toward transforming the cultural landscape of schools, turning them into "sanctuaries of support" where no student has to feel alone. 

You have the power to not just imagine a mentally healthy future, but to create it.

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