Children's Village lands $10K grant
From left, Katherine Hoyer, PHD Communications Manager, Casey Brandel, Children’s Village, Mary Anderson, Children's Village director of Family Support Services, Vanessa Moos, CEO at Children's Village, Jessica Eastin, PHD management assistant, Valerie Leal, PHD Suicide Prevention & Youth Education Specialist, and Don Duffy, PHD director.
COEUR d'ALENE — Panhandle Health District’s Suicide Prevention Action Network of North Idaho recently gave The Children’s Village a $10,000 grant.
The funds were generated from SPAN’s annual fundraising 5K event focused on remembering those lost to suicide, supporting those struggling with mental health and raising awareness.
“Children's Village is deeply honored to receive the $10,000 grant from Panhandle Health District through their Suicide Prevention 5K event,” said Vanessa Moos, Children’s Village CEO, in an acceptance letter sent to SPAN. “This grant serves as a crucial endorsement of our ongoing efforts to provide a trauma-responsive safe haven for children who are facing abuse, neglect or homelessness in our community.”
In 2021, Idaho had the ninth-highest suicide rate in the United States and claimed the lives of 387 Idahoans, a press release said.
According to the American Psychological Association, more than 20% of teens have seriously considered suicide and 9% have made a suicide attempt.
“Identifying warning signs of suicidal ideation or depression, whether in ourselves or others, is vital for early intervention and seeking timely assistance,” said Valerie Leal, suicide prevention and youth education specialist at PHD and SPAN chair. “We recognize the important work that Children’s Village does for suicide prevention within their daily operations, and we want to support that work.”
This year’s SPAN 5K is scheduled Sept. 14 at Riverstone Park. It is free. Sponsorships will be redistributed to community organizations that support mental health and suicide prevention.