DONATE TO SAVE LIVES

Our 14 year old son, Ethan, died by suicide in Oct of 2021 - just one week after we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. There was no indication that he was having any mental health issues. 

Our mission has become to fundraise for Ethan's Fund. His Foundation was set-up to distribute funds to local organizations that can help others impacted by suicide and mental health. 

The Fund's ultimate goal is to prevent other families from going through the devastating loss of a loved one - something that our family struggles with daily. Surviving the loss of a loved one to suicide has come with countless unexpected, ongoing ramifications that even years later we could have never expected. 

The mind is equally as important as any other part of the body. If an athlete had an injured ankle and couldn’t run, they would seek out a specialist. However, in many cases, if their mind hurt, they might suffer and do nothing until they ultimately succumbed to suicide to end the pain. 

This must stop. Together, we must change the way we view mental health. Together we can make it acceptable to get help when our minds hurt, just as easily and openly as when our ankle hurts. 

Contributions to the Ethan Schuster Memorial Fund for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health can be made by check or money order to:

Ethan Schuster Memorial Fund (schu26)

C/O Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

1055 Broadway Blvd., Suite 130

Kansas City, MO 64105

on the memo of the check, be sure to include "schu26"

The Ethan Schuster Memorial Fund for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health (a.k.a. Ethan's Fund) is a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) administered by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. 

The fund supports Mental Health initiatives, including Suicide Prevention.  Proceeds from fundraising efforts go to local organizations in the Kansas City area. A few organizations Ethan's Fund has donated to are: Kansas State University’s Mental Health initiatives; and Pathway to Hope; Olathe Middle School's Sources of Strength program for suicide prevention; and Rediscovering You.

Please donate whatever you can to help change the stigma of Mental Health and Suicide Awareness.

JJ & Anna Schuster, Evan, Emma, Elizabeth, and Elliott