Jaime Atwood, co-founder of Foster’s Voice, is the recipient of a 2024 Nation of Neighbors℠ empowerment award and a $10,000 grant.
In 2017, nine days after losing their son, Foster, to suicide, Jaime and her husband, Kevin, founded Foster’s Voice. “Our mission is to end suicide and the stigma around mental illness by improving the conversations and creating awareness, action, and hope,” shared Jaime.
The first Foster’s Voice Club began at United Township High School in East Moline, Illinois in 2018 with ten regular monthly attendees. Over the last six years, the United Township club has grown to nearly 100 students, making it the largest club at the school. In addition to the inaugural club, eight other area schools now lead a Foster’s Voice Club.
“I work with junior high and high school students to help them understand they are never alone, no matter what they may be going through,” said Jaime. “The clubs are empowering and are always the best part of my day!”
To accommodate the growing needs and interest in the community, Foster’s Voice launched a monthly women’s group and a young adult group in 2023. These support groups promote safe spaces for all to discuss their mental health and learn how to cope. Through these groups and the school clubs, Jaime touches the lives of more than 350 individuals each month. “I believe the most important work I do is having conversations with someone in crisis or struggling to handle a situation,” said Jaime.
Foster’s Voice will use its Nation of Neighbors grant to create activity books for the nine school clubs. The books will introduce the club’s curriculum to new schools and provide mental health resources to club members. “This has been a goal of mine for quite some time, but I did not have the extra funds to complete the project,” shared Jaime. “I feel honored and grateful to be chosen for this grant.”
