Jack Culotta Memorial Fundraiser for Fore Kids Foundation

11 years ago today, after battling depression and seeking as much help as his busy schedule allowed, our Dad passed by suicide. For the past several years on this day, my plan has been to raise money in his honor to benefit one of his favorite organizations — the Fore!Kids Foundation, helping kids through golf fundraisers, education, and mental health support. We raised more than $10K over the past two years for NAMI and Cafe Reconcile. This year, we are going to try to raise $7,160 (hence July 16th) for the Fore Kids Foundation. I share the poem below every year on this day. Found it in a funeral card during my senior year of HS in 2013, just months before 7/16/13. This is what Dad is saying right now to all those he loved and to all of us who struggle with mental health:

"Whatever you’re doing right now stop, Take a deep breath, then another. You are so beautiful. Has anyone told you that lately? And there’s something more important. You’re strong. Sometimes it feels like you’re not. Maybe even most of the time. But please don’t ever forget You’re stronger than you know. Every day, you wake up. No matter what. No matter what you’ve gone through, you wake up in the morning. Take a second and appreciate that. Have hope. Maybe it’s buried inside you. Maybe that sounds ridiculous. But you keep going every single day and that makes you incredible. But breathe today, breathe right now. Sometimes things are too much. And I want you to know that it’s okay. There will be times when you want to break down and cry, times when you want to fall asleep and never ever wake up again. That doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. And that’s beautiful, too. After all that you’ve been through, you can still feel. Never underestimate that. Because you know what that means? There’s hope. It means that you’ll feel love and happiness. It means you’ll feel pride and joy. It means you’re still alive, but more than that, it means you’re still living. Stay strong. Stay beautiful. Never stop feeling. Never stop laughing. But sometimes, just breathe. And I will see you again in heaven."