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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to commend Kevin and Jaime Atwood for 
4their continued work towards promoting suicide prevention and 
5supporting those struggling with mental health issues through 
6their organization, Foster's Voice, Inc.; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Kevin and Jaime Atwood founded the non-profit 
8Foster's Voice on July 30, 2017, nine days after their son, 
9Foster Atwood, died by suicide at the age of 19; their 
10organization's mission is to end suicide and the stigma around 
11mental illness by improving the conversations around mental 
12health and creating awareness, action, and hope; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Through Foster's Voice, Kevin and Jaime Atwood 
14provide mental health and suicide awareness curriculum, 
15including mental health education, tools, and recommended 
16resources, intended to be utilized to establish middle and 
17high school mental health clubs to promote a safe environment 
18to discuss mental health challenges without judgment while 
19providing strategies to develop peer support; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Foster's Voice established its inaugural Foster's 
21Voice Club at United Township High School in East Moline in 
222018, and now several other area schools have their own 
 
 
HR0363- 2 -LRB104 13718 ECR 26419 r

1Foster's Voice Club; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Foster's Voice, to accommodate the growing needs 
3and interest in the community, launched a monthly women's 
4group and a young adult group in 2023 to promote safe spaces to 
5discuss mental health issues and to learn how to cope with 
6mental health struggles; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Foster's Voice has been acknowledged for its 
8positive impact on the community, with co-founder Jaime Atwood 
9being a recipient of a Nation of Neighbors Empowerment Award 
10and a $10,000 grant in 2024; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Through Foster's Voice and its groups and school 
12clubs, Kevin and Jaime Atwood touch the lives of more than 350 
13individuals each month; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
15HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
16we commend Kevin and Jaime Atwood for their continued mental 
17health and suicide prevention work through their non-profit, 
18Foster's Voice, Inc.; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to Kevin and Jaime Atwood as a symbol of our esteem 
21and respect.