Dartmouth Fundraiser for Suicide Prevention Is Sept. 7

Tyler Joseph Leonard took his own life in October, 2018, just one day before his 30th birthday.  Understandably, family members and friends were grief-stricken and stunned.

However, rather than let grief consume them, they formed the Tyler Joseph Leonard Memorial Foundation and focused on mental health awareness and ways to prevent suicide.

Tyler's uncle Joel Baptista visited Townsquare Sunday to update the foundation's work.

"Tyler was a typical young adult," Baptista said. "He was family oriented, loved sports and music, but did have some mental health issues. Tyler was addressing those issues, but eventually for him they became too much to bear."

Baptista said despite their grief, family and friends decided to do something to address suicide prevention and mental illness in young adults. They formed the foundation in 2022 and hold an annual fundraiser to assist in its efforts.

In 2022, the foundation contributed to a program for troubled teens at New Bedford Child and Family Services.

Last year, the foundation brought in the Kaleb Joseph Self-Help Tour, delivering inspirational messages to students at six area high schools and one college.

"We were able to reach more than 5,000 students with Kaleb's message of identifying, processing and managing emotions, and dealing with vulnerability," Baptista said. "It was eye-opening to see what teens and young adults in our area are dealing with."

This year's fundraiser is September 7 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Allendale Country Club in Dartmouth. There will be live music, raffles, a silent auction, dance and gymnastic demonstrations, and a DJ, along with food and beverage. Tickets are $50 and are available at the Tyler Joseph Leonard Memorial Foundation website.

"The fundraiser is really a day to celebrate Tyler and the things that he loved," Baptista said. "We hope to raise funds so we can get back into the community so another family doesn't have to deal with the tragedy that we have."

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