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FGCU College Students

Make Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy a Priority

FGCU ATO brothers tour DLC campus DLC Check Presentation: Matthew Morey - FGCU ATO Vice President,
Jack Hellmer - FGCU ATO Brother, Scott Burgess - DLC CEO,
Samuel Childers - FGCU ATO President
ince the start of the see their support in action vs a national non-profit. After touring the
COVID-19 pandemic, rates of DLC main campus in Naples to learn more about the services, they
Sanxiety and depression among chose DLC as their annual charity of choice.
college students have increased "Our brothers began this grassroots movement to support our
substantially. In an academic year, local community’s mental health through the education of available
a third of students on campuses resources to our fellow students and through raising much needed
meet the criteria for a mental health funds for DLC,” added Hellmer. “Our brothers built a strong
diagnosis. Each year, approximately connection to DLC and have seen overwhelming support for our
24,000 college students attempt suicide while 1,100 students efforts.”
succeed in their attempt, making it the second leading cause of The brother’s hard work and passion paid off, resulting in
death among college students in the United States. $16,600 for DLC programs and far exceeding any other fundraising
Jack Hellmer, a Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) efforts in the fraternity’s history. The funds were raised during
interdisciplinary entrepreneurship senior and Alpha Tau Omega campus-wide fundraising events and activities held in 2022.
(ATO) fraternity brother, developed UBYou, a tool to help students "Being able to witness first-hand what DLC can do with the
assess their stress that resulted in a one-year agreement with the money we raise gives me peace of mind knowing that people who
university to use the app as a counseling screener. While developing are struggling mentally will get the help they deserve,” shared ATO
the app, Hellmer learned that the school counseling center was Signature Event Chair Quinn Griffin, who helped spearhead the
having trouble keeping up with the growing demand of students DLC fundraising efforts. "It is our mission to support DLC so that
requesting help, and he knew more needed to be done on campus to the people who don’t have the strength to fight for themselves can.”
bring awareness to these common issues. The fraternity’s efforts to support DLC didn’t stop at
Each year, FGCU ATO chooses a charity to support for their Philanthropy Week. When DLC put out a critical appeal for
philanthropic endeavors. Hellmer introduced the ATO board advocacy support to the community in February 2023, ATO
to the DLC mission and encouraged them to consider a mental members attended the Collier County Board of Commissioners
health partner. ATO meeting showing their support for the new Collier Central
is known as America’s Receiving Facility location near DLC. The advocacy effort paid off
Leadership Development and the board voted 4-1 in favor of the new location for the 102-bed
Fraternity because of crisis assessment center that DLC will manage once construction is
its strong emphasis on complete.
preparing its members to In March, the FGCU ATO chapter sponsored the DLC 55th
be leaders on their campus Anniversary Sound Minds Celebration and 14 members attended
and in the community. the fundraiser to hear the keynote address from mental health
Over the past year, ATO advocate and academy award-winning actress Goldie Hawn.
nationally donated more FGCU ATO will continue their DLC partnership and raise
than the equivalent of $8.1 money for their mission at the 2023 FGCU Philanthropy Week in
million worth of dollars April. Fundraising activities will include: Pie an Alpha Tau, Dunk
donated and hours served an Alpha Tau, a carnival, and a brunch.
to philanthropies and “We are excited to continue our mission to improve the lives of
communities. our fellow students and community members through our presence
FGCU ATO brothers on campus and through DLC," added Hellmer.
wanted to choose a local To make a donation towards the FGCU ATO Mental Health
charity where they could Philanthropy Mission, visit ATO.crowdchange.co/29914/donate.
58 Life in Naples | April 2023