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Who Are we? Community Awareness Recognizing Educating Suicide Through personal tragedy, C.A.R.E.S (Community Awareness in Recognizing & Educating on Suicide) has banded together for the prevention of suicide. We are the parents, siblings, family members, friends, members of the community with a voice. Together we are loud enough to save a life. Our Mission: To educate and support the members of the community on suicide prevention. Personal Note:
C.A.R.E.S. was born because of my own personal tragedy. On January 17, 2006, at 1:34am, my husband and I were notified that our son, Angelo, the oldest of our three boys had died of suicide from a gunshot wound. He was 24 years old. His dream was to become a police officer. He graduated from the police academy and was in the process of interviewing with local police departments. He had recently moved into his own apartment, was spending more time with his younger brother and we thought he was happy. We had no warning signs.
That night, our nightmare began and I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, Lee County had nothing to offer our family. Only one support group existed in Fort Myers, which meets two times a month. After researching suicide prevention organizations throughout the U.S. and learning all the alarming statistics, I realized that I needed to do something in our community. In April, 2006, C.A.R.E.S. was formed with the help of some wonderful and caring people.
I now see that light, and that light is my son urging me to turn something so tragic into a positive venture where we can help others. C.A.R.E.S., Community Awareness in Recognizing & Educating on Suicide, is a non profit organization focusing on suicide prevention in Lee County. Our vision is to open a much needed resource center in our community where we will be able to help anyone in need. Whether it is for information purpose or financial help referrals, we want to help our community to be aware that suicide exists among us.
I will never know “why” Angelo took his own life…what I do know is that he is the angel on my shoulder watching and guiding me to save someone else’s life from suicide.
Virginia Cervasio Board Members:
Virginia Cervasio – Executive Director,
President
Tara Moser
– Board of Directors, Vice President
Laura Koehlke
– Board of Directors, Treasurer
June D'Angelo
– Board of Directors, Secretary Donna Germain
– Board of Directors
Kimberly Constantine
– Board of Directors Christine Seymour – Board of Directors
Kellie Rausch – Board of Directors Web Designer: J.P.
Terrasi – Terrasi Media, Inc.,
President
Your loved-one's life is worth it. Make a donation today!
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