Vanessa and Kenny, monthly donors and dedicated volunteers at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, share a deeply personal connection to the organization’s mission.
“Didi Hirsch’s mission, the cause, and the people that they serve is very close to our hearts and what we believe,” Kenny expresses.
Their support is rooted in their families’ experiences with suicide, addiction, and mental health. Kenny’s mother, Roslyn, took her life 10 years ago, and the pain of her loss still lingers. “This is the best healing,” he shares.
When the couple decided where to give their time and resources, Didi Hirsch was at the top of their list. “To know that we’re helping an organization [like Didi Hirsch] that’s giving people guidance, education, and services—it just means the world to me,” Kenny adds.
Vanessa has been volunteering at Didi Hirsch for four months now. For her, the work is not only fulfilling but also transformational. “I want to say I’ve made a huge impact, but it’s made more of an impact on me. Just being able to pack mugs or write thank-you notes—knowing that I’m giving my time to something so meaningful, it doesn’t really matter what I do. If it makes somebody happy or inspires them to give or help, then I feel like I’ve done something.”
For both Vanessa and Kenny, giving back is a way to transform pain into purpose. “At some point, you have to not be the victim anymore,” Kenny reflects. “The best course of action to reverse that is to try to help others.”
Through giving back, they’ve found healing and connection. “[Suicide is] such a huge problem that impacts so many people. To know that there’s a whole community that’s willing to help, there’s comfort in that and you don’t feel so alone. That’s a beautiful thing.”
