2023 Annual Grant Awards in Honor of Gabe’s 17th Birthday
As we honor Gabe’s 17th birthday, we are announcing our fourth annual grant awards - financial gifts to organizations that further the mission of Gabriel’s Light. As we continue to grow, we are proud to support the same organizations that we have since the beginning of Gabriel’s Light as well as to add a few well-deserving newcomers to the list this year. We are grateful to our donors, which allowed us to award nearly $100,000 of grants to organizations that help us forward our mission and reach more people. We are fueled by your support and evidence that our work is making a difference in improving mental wellness and even saving lives.
This year's grantees are listed below. This will be our final year offering grants at this level. We are excited to share that we have started funneling more resources to build the Gabriel's Light team, allowing us to implement more programs and reach more schools. As Gabriel's Light continues to expand, our growing team and the increasing demand for our services require additional funding to further our mission.
In honor of Gabe's 17th birthday, we are asking for your support to advance our mission and be able to visit additional schools this fall. It remains a priority for us to ensure that underserved schools receive the mental health support they need. In the 2023-2024 school year, we aim to go into more under-resourced schools that primarily serve minority students. Please visit our fundraising page to learn more and donate.
Photo credit for Gabe’s portrait: Aleya Cydney Photography
Introducing Our 2023 Grant Recipients
Sharing the light of our son Gabe motivates us towards our ultimate vision of a world free of youth suicide, so that others do not suffer the pain and loss as we have. Our 2023 grantees mirror this vision and work to Shine the LIGHT for others. Their work aligns with Gabriel’s Light, reflects Gabe’s joy and passions, and inspires us to celebrate and amplify all the ways we educate, empower, and support each other.
Elyssa’s Mission
Our largest grant is awarded to Elyssa’s Mission, one of our key partners in forwarding our mission to prevent youth suicide. Since 2006, Elyssa’s Mission has provided suicide prevention training to schools in Illinois for no cost to the school. Utilizing evidence-based S.O.S. Signs of Suicide training, they successfully work with 250 schools and also provide grief support to schools affected by suicide. Through their partnership with Gabriel’s Light, grants brought the life-saving HOPE Squad® program, (a school based, peer-to-peer suicide training program) to Chicago area schools beginning in August 2020.
If Gabe’s school had a program like Elyssa’s Mission’s S.O.S. training or Hope Squads, his death may have been prevented through an intervention these programs provide. In Gabe’s honor, Gabriel’s Light works together with this like minded organization to help identify kids at risk and refer them for help.
Learn more on their website here.
Camp Tecumseh
Since 1924, Camp Tecumseh has been one of the largest YMCA Camps in the country. A place where kids can explore the outdoors, build life-long friendships, discover their best selves, and develop character, compassion, and confidence necessary to lead the next generation.
For the third summer, Gabriel’s Light was honored to train counselors at Camp Tecumseh on the importance of kindness to oneself and to others. A set of 11 Kindness Cards were created that promote and teach kindness techniques. Each card highlights a topic such as “Gratitude”, “Smiling”, or “Think Happy Thoughts” and includes an exercise for practice. The Kindness Cards will be used with 3,500 campers ages 5-16. In addition, a special kindness program was developed for 160 camp counselors, aged 15-16, in their Counselors In Leadership Training program (CILTS). In addition, we provided kindness-themed posters and t-shirts for all the counselors.
Learn more on their website here.
Camp Copneconic
Since 1915, YMCA Camp Copneconic has provided outdoor programs for youth and families. Their heritage begins with a strong Christian foundation. Add 700 acres of beautiful, serene property, a medley of historical and modern facilities, and a long-standing reputation of caring staff, Camp Copneconic is truly the Genuine Article in the camping industry.
Building on our successful summer program at Camp Tecumseh, Camp Copneconic is implementing our kindness-themed program this year. We provided training to all staff, Kindness Cards, colorful posters with kindness messages, and t-shirts for all staff. In addition, Gabriel’s Light underwrote the services for Purdue University’s Counseling and Psychology Department for this camp as well. Staff members can reach out to the counselors for help throughout the summer.
Learn more on their website here.
L.O.S.S. Program
The L.O.S.S. (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) Program is a support group for those who are grieving a death by suicide of a family member or close friend. The non-denominational program is offered by Catholic Charities. For 42 years, LOSS has offered a safe, non-judgmental place to assist group and individual members through the grieving process. There is no fee for their services.
The Deely family found support with others grieving a loss by suicide, and through that support, met another family who similarly suffered the unimaginable loss of a twelve year old child. They are so grateful for the support and comfort of L.O.S.S. and regularly refer them to those impacted by suicide loss.
Learn more on their website here.
Concern Worldwide U.S.
Concern Worldwide is a global community working to end extreme poverty with sustainable, community-driven program since 1968. Among the many recipients of this fund is the extreme humanitarian assistance provided to the Horn of Africa (including Ethiopia, Gabriel’s birth place), where over twenty million people face starvation after a three year drought.
Learn more on their website here.
Peace Runners 773
Peace Runners 773 is a non-Profit organization founded in June, 2020. Their mission is to provide affordable health and wellness in Chicago’s underserved Westside communities. Programming focuses on the three main points of health and wellness which are physical, mental, and social.
Peace Runners 773 serves their communities through fitness forums, youth outreach, and community service events including 5K runs at little to no cost to the participants.
By partnering with organizations like Gabriel’s Light and local businesses, they reach out to community members to prioritize their health and wellness. What began as just physical health and running has turned into a growing group with a strong bond, body, and mind. Peace Runners 773 currently holds free fitness events and Fun Runs/Walks at Garfield Park every Saturday morning and host events such as a 5K celebrating Juneteenth.
Gabriel’s Light is proud to award a grant to this grass roots organization making a difference on Chicago’s under-resourced Westside.
Learn more on their website here.
Alliance of Hope
The Alliance of Hope offers free, online healing support and services for people coping with a devastating loss to suicide. Their online forums operates 24/7 to support those unable to attend support in person. Gabriel’s Light is thankful for organizations like Alliance of Hope that guide suicide survivors through their grief.
Learn more on their website here.
Imagine Englewood If
Imagine Englewood If’s mission is to strengthen and empower the Greater Englewood community through teaching local youth and their families healthy living, environmental awareness, and positive communication skills. Their “Kids on the Move” summer day camp provides a safe and fun environment for youth to get active, explore, and build new friendships. Youth campers are exposed to new experiences and places that expand their view of the world!
Learn more on their website here.
Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
The Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago (ECAC) is a not-for-profit, non-political organization committed to serving the educational, cultural, psychological, and socio-economic needs of Ethiopians in Chicagoland and the surrounding areas. ECAC offers an exciting and culturally relevant summer camp and school break programs for children and youth.
Learn more on their website here.
Erika’s Lighthouse
Erika’s Lighthouse promotes inclusive school cultures through mental health education. They give educators the tools to create meaningful discussions about mental health and depression. Their mission is to make sure no young person feels alone in their depression. Their teen depression awareness programs help educators and teens create safe spaces to learn about depression, letting students know they are never alone, and there is somewhere to turn.
Learn more on their website here.
Beehive Alliance
The Beehive Alliance is a non-profit organization started in 2019 that is dedicated to creating a buzz around pediatric mental and behavioral health issues. They are committed to providing the resources necessary to families in their local community burdened by these issues, so that no child is denied access to treatments that change lives.
Learn more on their website here.
NAMI Chicago
Guided by the experiences of those living with mental health conditions and rooted in equity, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Chicago educates to fight stigma and discrimination, fiercely advocates for our community, and shares hope, connection and expertise with people on their mental health journey.
Mental health affects everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from. That's why NAMI Chicago is committed to showing up for everyone in our community—whether it’s Chicago’s first responders, students and school staff, a person on the other end of the phone, or in the community, meeting individuals where they are. NAMI Chicago knows that we heal on a community level.
Learn more on their website here.
Willow House
Willow House is a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of grieving children and their families. We are recognized as a leader in the field of children’s grief locally and nationally. Peer support group services are provided in four locations, Arlington Heights, Chicago, Libertyville and Bannockburn, including a group for children and families grieving a suicide death and a unique expressive arts group.
Since 1998, Willow House has been the ‘go-to’ program in the greater Chicago area, called upon to help young grieving families, school communities and others in crisis as they cope with death. Willow House has provided direct services to hundreds of families each year. Thousands more have been served by school and community outreach programs that span the entire Chicago region, from the far south suburbs of Chicago to the Wisconsin border and beyond.
Through donations, volunteers, as well as corporate and foundation support, Willow House services are provided at no cost to families.
Learn more on their website here.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
AFSP's mission is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. Established in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.
AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health by engaging in the following core strategies:
Funding scientific research
Educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention
Advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention
Supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide
Learn more on their website here.
RefuSHE
RefuSHE protects, educates, and empowers orphaned, unaccompanied, and separated refugee girls and young women to build healthier and more resilient futures for themselves and their children.
Since 2008, RefuSHE has served thousands of women, girls, and children through our award-winning holistic model. They provide the short and long-term support refugee girls need to become emotionally resilient and economically independent. Formerly known as Heshima Kenya, RefuSHE has grown alongside the young women they serve, ensuring that their programs are always for and by them.
Learn more on their website here.
Roots Ethiopia
Roots Ethiopia works with communities in Ethiopia to turn local ideas into lasting change. They work together to improve schools, educate children, and enable livelihoods. These are community priorities, so they’re Roots Ethipia's priorities.
They believe that when we pursue these goals together, we can increase financial stability for families and communities in Ethiopia.
Learn more on their website here.
Thank you to our donors, grantees, youth ambassadors and volunteers who have helped us accomplish so much. Your generosity and support of Gabriel’s Light’s makes a difference!
Each and every one of us can Shine Your Light and make a difference to reduce these horrible and growing suicide statistics.
With gratitude,
Carol & Brendan Deely
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Please share any questions, feedback, or topics that interest you by emailing us here.
About Gabriel's Light
In 2019, Carol and Brendan Deely founded Gabriel’s Light in honor of their son who died by suicide at age 12. In honor of Gabe and all those lost to suicide, they share their journey with the hope that others may learn and grow from their tragedy. Focusing on three pillars of cyber safety, suicide prevention, and kindness campaigns, through outreach, programs, partnerships, and funding, they raise awareness and inspire youth, parents, and educators to take action and help forward their mission.