Here is a special conversation with community leaders about suicide prevention. They share their personal connections to the cause, how you can help yourself or a loved one, and preview the Rock & Row 4 Life event happening on December 7th.
This conversation includes (pictured left to right):
Michael Shelby, President & CEO of Shall Be LLC
Kim Beauregard, CEO of InterCommunity Healthcare
Marisa Giarnella-Porco, President and CEO of the Jordan Porco Foundation
Rachel Papke, Communications Manager at the Jordan Porco Foundation
Cheryl McDonald, co-owner of Bear’s Restaurant Group
Renee DiNino, iHeartMedia
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States, 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). Prefer to text? Text HELLO to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
We're ready to Rock & Row 4 Life! The staff at Bear's Restaurant Group and CrossFit gym's from around CT are teaming-up on Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 12-3PM, at 6 locations across the state to raise awareness on the increasing need to focus on mental health and suicide prevention in our country, especially as it relates to restaurant industry employees.
We encourage the public to stop into any Bear's location, Blind Pig Pizza or Spotlight Theatres on December 7th to cheer on the rowers and spin our prize wheel for a chance to win many great prizes. A portion of all restaurant sales during the event will also be donated.
Bear’s locations will compete to see who can row the furthest distance in 3 hours AND raise the most money to benefit the Jordan Porco Foundation’s lifesaving programs! The winning team will have their donations matched by the owners of Bear's and receive a trophy to go along with their bragging rights!
Bear’s Restaurant Group is committed to the Jordan Porco Foundation’s mission of preventing suicide, promoting mental health, and creating a message of hope for young adults. Most of us have been affected by someone in our lives that’s living with a mental health illness. Unfortunately, it’s not until there is a suicide - or an attempted suicide - that the seriousness of the situation is brought to light and talked about. This event is just the beginning for our collective efforts to proactively help people in our industry who are struggling to reach out for help.
In loving memory of Sean Brennan—in rowing we are remembering
This past July, Bear’s lost a member of its family, Sean Brennan, to suicide. When we row on December 7th, we row in memory of Sean. Our inaugural Rock n’ Row event shows our unwavering commitment to creating a message of hope—you are not alone. There is a community of people - including Bears, JPF, and Land Warrior CrossFit - who will gather together and support you.
Please support our teams as they Rock & Row 4 Life! Thank you for your donation to this effort. Your dollars will help save lives.
The Jordan Porco Foundation was founded in 2011 by Ernie and Marisa Porco after they lost their son, Jordan, to suicide when he was a freshman in college.
In their grief, Jordan’s parents learned the unacceptable statistics surrounding mental health and suicide in the young adult population, and decided they needed to turn their grief into action so that other families would never have to experience such a profound loss.
The Jordan Porco Foundation is committed to preventing suicide in the high school, college, and college entry student population. Through awareness, education, and innovative programming, JPF is challenging stigma around mental health and help-seeking, creating open conversations about the prevalence of suicide and mental health issues in the young adult population, and saving lives.
InterCommunity has come a long way in 40 years. The original foundation of the agency was created in 1977 by three families who gathered together in the basement of a church to exchange information regarding mental health issues and offer each other support. In 2015, InterCommunity entered into an affiliation with the former ADRC (Alcohol & Drug Recovery Centers) to offer a broad range of mental health, addiction recovery, and primary care services.
In 2017, we celebrated 40 years of our journey toward changing the meaning of care…and caring. From embracing the concept of integrated healthcare and becoming a FQHC-LA, launching primary care services, medication-assisted treatment, and so much more, InterCommunity works every day to reduce health disparities in the community and offer people from underserved areas the best possible care for body and mind.
Shall Be LLC is an established North America technology firm providing security, computer forensics, network penetration testing, Executive coaching and technology addiction treatment services...
Bear’s Restaurant Group currently operates five restaurants in Connecticut: Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ (Windsor, South Windsor, Hartford, and New Haven) and The Blind Pig Pizza Co. (Hartford).
The company’s commitment to community reaches those locally in Connecticut and beyond.