Supporters of the Josh Anderson Foundation gather around to listen to keynote speakers Jack Saunders and Rebecca Deeds. Photo contributed
At its first fall fundraiser, the Josh Anderson Foundation reached its goal and raised $35,000. More than 150 supporters gathered on Oct. 23 at the Top of the Town restaurant in Arlington to celebrate the foundation’s accomplishments in mental health awareness education. Guest speakers Jack Saunders, a senior at McLean High school, and Rebecca Deeds, daughter of state Sen. Creigh Deeds, shared their personal experiences with mental health issues, both illuminating the need for mental health awareness and mental health care reform. Gillian Anderson closed the event with a musical tribute dedicated to her brother Josh.
The Josh Anderson Foundation was created in the aftermath of the death of Josh Anderson in 2009 who took his own life. The foundation’s focus is to address the need of mental health programs to prevent losing other teens to suicide. The foundation is currently working with the Fairfax County Public School system and is supporting programs in Loudoun County Public Schools and in the Patch American School in Stuttgart, Germany. For more information on the Josh Anderson Foundation visit www.joshandersonfoundation.org.