Carson J Spencer Foundation

A nonprofit organization

Innovation in suicide prevention.
The Carson J Spencer Foundation is a Colorado nonprofit, established in 2005. Our mission: Elevating the conversation to make suicide prevention a health and safety priority.
We sustain a passion for living by:
• Delivering innovative and effective suicide prevention programs for working-aged people
• Coaching young leaders to develop social enterprises for mental health promotion and suicide prevention
• Supporting people bereaved by suicide

Testimonials

"We all know someone who has either attempted suicide or has lost their lives to a suicide attempt. We need to support organizations like the Carson J. Spencer Foundation because they stand in the gap when the rest of us are going about our daily lives-the busyness of our lives. We forget that someone has to stop long enough to hear the pain of those who are calling out for help…The Carson J Spencer Foundation does just that, and the more we can support them the more we can have the resources in the community to reach those who are in pain." -Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
"If we can prevent one suicide this year through our participation with the Carson J. Spencer Foundation it's worth it…One employee in particular called me and said that the work we did with the Carson J Spencer Foundation made a difference. They were on medication that wasn't working for them, and they had suicidal thoughts…Well, I saw that individual at our company picnic last weekend with his two young kids and his wife. He's alive, and that makes a difference." -Jon Kinning Chief Operating Officer of RK Mechanical
"I think that the work the Carson J Spencer Foundation does is absolutely phenomenal, they really are the catalyst to get people talking about suicide. That way, when you enter into what could be a scary topic, say suicide prevention, they make it just so easy, so comfortable, and really natural to talk about…If I could say one thing to other Chiefs of Departments, it would be to have the courage to broach the issue, have the courage to put yourself out there, and know that by engaging in the topic and putting yourself out there you're really working to preserve your members lives, and that's the greatest gift you could give any member of your department." -Chief Eric Tade of the Denver Fire Department
"What I want to tell other student leaders is just one person can make a difference - helping others and spreading the cause," -Mountain Vista FIRE Within student, Brenna Jensen.

"This 'outside the box' approach to youth suicide prevention builds leadership skills, connects local businesses with the young people in their communities, and promotes recovery. This creative program will support Riverside's efforts to reduce the impact of suicide and suicidal behaviors among youth in Massachusetts." - Larry Berkowitz, Director of the Riverside Trauma Center

"Our jobs, as law enforcement officers, often place us in the middle of highly traumatic situations and this can cause a lot increased emotional stress and trauma for officers…In addition to making sure our officers are physically safe, we also need to make sure they are psychological safety." -IACP President Chief Yousry Zakhary

"Law Enforcement officers are the first line of defense in protecting our towns, cities and communities. We must be vigilant in helping them to protect their own health," -Doryn Chervin, Dr.P.H., Executive Secretary of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and Vice President and Senior Scientist in the Education Development Center, Inc.'s Health and Human Development Division.

"Several months ago our department experienced a sudden and tragic loss of a co-worker, friend, and firefighter. In a career where we see loss of life on a regular basis, the acute loss of someone close, especially by suicide brings forth emotions most firefighters internalize and do not want to face. Rather than to sweep it under rug, my goal to face it head on and develop the best resource that our firefighters can access to prevent any future suicides. Our loss is painful, and we will continue our effort to safeguard this never happens again." -Derrick Delgado, President of Firefighters Incorporated for Racial Equality

"Experiencing divorce at the age of 33, then watching seven of my closest male friends go through it too, led me to a question so many things...

Mission

Innovation in suicide prevention.

The Carson J Spencer Foundation is a Colorado nonprofit, established in 2005.

The mission of the Carson J Spencer Foundation is: Elevating the conversation to make suicide prevention a health and safety priority.

We sustain a passion for life through:

- delivering innovative and effective suicide prevention programs

- coaching young leaders to develop social enterprises for mental health promotion

- supporting people bereaved by suicide

Background Statement

The Carson J Spencer Foundation (CJSF) was established in 2005 to preserve the memory of Carson Spencer, who took his life on December 7, 2004, after a difficult battle with bipolar disorder. Through the continuing legacy of this foundation, CJSF hopes to honor the man that brought so much good into the world by helping others. Carson was a loving husband and father, a caring son and brother, a dynamic and successful entrepreneur, an accomplished athlete, and friend. The CJSF CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, is Carson's sister and a clinical psychologist. She is also a mental health advocate, and a recognized and respected professional public speaker on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. CJSF was originally funded by donations from friends and family of Carson Spencer and received its first grant in 2006, one year after its foundation.

MISSION: The mission of CJSF is to elevate the conversation to make suicide prevention a health and safety priority.

We sustain a passion for living through: 1) Delivering innovative and effective prevention programs for working-aged people, 2) Coaching young leaders to develop social enterprises for mental health promotion, and 3) Supporting people bereaved by suicide.

CORE VALUES:

• Entrepreneurial Spirit

• Collaboration

• Upstream Solutions

• Integrity

• Passion for Living

PROGRAMS: CJSF looks for the root causes of community issues and uses strategic innovation to create programs that fill gaps in service and meet people where they work, live, and learn.

• FIRE Within is a year-long program that challenges youth to develop entrepreneurial strategies to impact a large scale social issue. The program in Colorado is delivered in partnership with Junior Achievement and Second Wind Fund. More detailed information about the program is included in this funding request.

• Man Therapy® is a national mental health literacy program that uses humor, mass media, and on-line mental health tools to reach working-aged men who are at-risk for suicide and unlikely to seek help. Man Therapy is in partnership with Cactus Marketing and Colorado's Office of Suicide Prevention. It is a resource to help men with any problem that life sends their way. It is sustained through licensing and revenue sharing arrangements.

• iCare Packages are gifts of compassion for people bereaved by suicide. These packages provide people who have lost a loved one to suicide with age-appropriate grief support tools, community referrals, and educational material to help them heal. iCare packages work to heal the ripple effects of suicide deaths in communities, workplaces, and educational institutions.

• Working Minds: This national best practice initiative provides a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention in the workplace. Mental health concerns cost U.S. companies millions of dollars per year due to absenteeism, presenteeism, and other productivity issues. Working Minds gives businesses the tools and resources to identify to staff who may be experiencing mental health issues.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Carson J Spencer Foundation

other names

CJSF

Year Established

2005

Tax id (EIN)

20-2545226

Category

Public & Societal Benefit

Address

1385 S. Colorado Blvd. Suite A316
Denver, CO 80222

Other

1385 S Colorado Blvd Suite A-316
Denver, CO 80222

Service areas

Denver County, CO, US

Phone

(720) 244-6535

Other

303-219-5042

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