Spark Kindness Founder Receives Leadership in Suicide Prevention Award

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BOSTON – Christine Fortune Guthery, Founder and Executive Director of SPARK Kindness, Inc., on March 8, received the Leadership in Suicide Prevention Award from the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP). The award was presented to Guthery at the State House by Eileen Davis, Vice President of Mass211 and Founder of Call2Talk.

“It is an incredible honor to receive this award,” said Guthery. “There is no greater challenge to address than suicide prevention for our youth and our whole community.”

“The MA Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) Leadership in Suicide Prevention Award is given to a person who has worked to reduce suicide deaths, made a difference in the lives of people affected by suicide, and has given of themselves selflessly to support and promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention,” said Jennifer Kelliher, managing director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention.

Guthery, who founded SPARK Kindness in 2010 as a proactive way for the entire community to address bullying and promote mental health and kindness, is an attorney and mother of 3 children who resides in Natick.

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Today, SPARK Kindness is an innovative grassroots nonprofit organization (and movement) that serves nearly 9,000 members in MetroWest Boston and beyond through free programming, resources, and events that promote resilience, kindness, and belonging for all. SPARK welcomes new members and organizations to their programs and to partner in the work in building healthy and connected communities together. Go to SPARKKindness.org for more information and to join
their mailing list, or email info@SPARKKindness.org to connect with the SPARK team.

In accepting the leadership award, Guthery also added, “I am so grateful for the work of the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Coalition, as well as amazing organizations like Call2Talk, Mass211, Samaritans, and many others, as well as their staff and volunteers. Though they are the heroes and leaders focusing on this crisis on a daily basis, suicide prevention is for all of us to address. SPARK Kindness and our amazing staff and Board are proud to be a bridge to the entire community to offer free programming and resources to increase awareness, bring hope, and decrease the shame and stigma associated with suicide and mental health.”

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SPARK Kindness is a 501(c)(3) grassroots nonprofit organization based in Natick, that serves nearly 9,000 members in over 22 communities in MetroWest Boston and beyond with free programs and events. Our mission is to build a kind, resilient and welcoming community where no one feels alone, bullied,unsupported or unconnected. We support families, schools, organizations, coaches, artists, faith and community leaders in building a culture that promotes resilience, kindness, and respect.

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