Thrive Allen County is working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prevent Veteran suicide in Allen County and surrounding areas.

Through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP), Thrive Allen County was recently awarded $467,764 from VA to support its mission of preventing Veteran suicide. The SSG Fox SPGP provides funding to community-based organizations who use non-clinical, peer-led, and non-traditional approaches to engage and serve eligible Veterans, especially those not yet connected with VA in under-resourced areas with high-risk populations.

“By prioritizing suicide prevention, we can create a support network that reaches those who are struggling, offering them hope, compassion, and a lifeline when they need it most,” said Jessica Thompson, Chief Strategy and Development Officer at Thrive Allen County. “Together, we can create a community that gives every person a chance to overcome challenges and discover they are not alone on their journey toward healing and recovery.”

Thrive Allen County is a non-profit organization that provides a new model of rural revitalization that works to harness the strengths of local residents in building healthier, more vibrant communities.

A Life Honored The program honors Staff Sergeant Parker Fox, a sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Known for his generosity and kindness, Fox died by suicide in 2020 at age 25. For more information about the SSG Fox SPGP, visit MentalHealth.VA.gov/ssgfox-grants.