EVERYBODY LOVES KENNY PROJECT
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Mission Statement
The mission of Attitudes in Reverse (AIR) is to provide unlimited mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs to youth and young adults regardless of ability to pay. Inspire hope for those suffering from mental pain so they seek assistance while instilling empathy and understanding of mental health disorders throughout society.
About This Cause
The History of Everybody Loves Kenny Project, Inc. dba Attitudes In Reverse (AIR): Kenny Baker was a kind-hearted young man that any parent would be proud of. In spite of his dyslexia, he was a math honor student. He was brilliant…when tested at the age of six, he was found to have the long-term memory of a 29 year old. He was a star swimmer on two swim teams. Kenny was a life guard at the local YWCA for over four years. He had many friends, as he was respectful to all people, peers, teachers, adults. He was a good listener. He had a girlfriend. Everybody loved Kenny. At the age of 15 years old when he was diagnosed with Depression, the bottom dropped out of his world. Within a year, he was also diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder. Kenny was embarrassed by his illness and told most people that he had mono for over three years. His illness prevented him from attending the local high school, so many friends drifted away. Kenny found some public educators did not understand his illness, or side affects from the medications, and said mean, hurtful things to him. No one chooses to be mentally ill and no one can “just snap out of it”. Kenny bravely battled against his illness, compliant with doctors, following all forms of treatment. Kenny was in emotional and physical pain. Kenny battled his “invisible illness”, as well as the stigma of this illness. At the age of 19, just three weeks before graduation from high school, the pain was too great. On May 19, 2009, Kenny ended his pain and ended his life. Sadly, the discrimination continued after his death. At that time, the administration of the local high school believed that suicide was about “looking for attention”, and as a result, less than 10 staff from the high school attended Kenny’s wake and funeral. The school administration suggested that Kenny’s photo be covered by a sticker in the 1,500 yearbooks to be distributed that year, basically erasing Kenny’s memory, and the existence of mental illness, in the high school. Each day, Kenny’s sister, Katelyn had to battle this discrimination, as she was only a sophomore in that high school when Kenny died. From this discrimination, AIR™ was born. The concept of AIR was Katelyn’s. Mental illness is like air. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. It is all around us. For her concept, the New Jersey Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma awarded Katelyn a 2010 NJ Governor’s Ambassador Award. We are happy to report that AIR’s continued communication with this high school, has brought about an important change. In April 2011, Katelyn and her good friend, Nick, who also lost a brother to suicide, presented to 410 Juniors in that high school. Of those 410 students, 18 went looking for help. AIR has been invited back to speak in May 2012 to educate the current Junior class about mental health and suicide prevention. Over the next three years, AIR has presented to over 6,000 more students at this high school, in addition to more than 30,000 other students at other middle and high schools, as well as colleges and universities, throughout New Jersey, New York, Missouri and Vermont. Since November 2015, AIR has launched chapters in California, Arizona and Minnesota through support from actors, crew members and fans of the popular television program Supernatural, and plans to establish chapters in other states in the near future. AIR’s mission is to educate about mental health disorder, to prevent suicides, but just as important is to educate so that no one is misjudged or criticized because they have a biological-based brain illness. All people, no matter what their differences, should be treated with respect and kindness. Miki, AIR Co-Founder Tricia Baker’s Service Dog, has accompanied the Bakers to every community event where the family exhibited to Start THE Conversation, Reverse Attitudes and Save Lives. It immediately became apparent that Miki broke down barriers to communication about the sensitive topics of mental health disorders and suicide, as he clearly captured people’s attention and after engaging in conversation, at least 90 percent of the visitors shared their own or their family members’ experiences with mental health disorders. This naturally led to Miki and other Service Dogs becoming integral parts of AIR and its programs. Kenny was a kind, thoughtful, quiet soul, who always put others before himself. There were many times, during his hospitalizations, he would give other kids his clothes, because they would have no more than the clothes on their back. We want to continue to help others, doing work that would make Kenny proud of us.