STORIES OF INSPIRATION

It’s easy to support the SMA Foundation. The work this organization does, not only in our local community but across Florida, is truly essential. The SMA Foundation provides critical resources that support treatment centers and help individuals facing significant mental health challenges.

I have full confidence that when we donate to the SMA Foundation, those resources are used wisely and efficiently to make a real impact. As we think about our charitable giving, the SMA Foundation will continue to be an important part of our plans.

We lost our son, Jay, to suicide in 2010 after he struggled with serious mental illness. At the time, he was on a long waiting list for care that never came-there was not enough funding, and no supportive housing available.

Today, the need is still urgent. Seeing individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness on the streets is a powerful reminder that too many people are still waiting for help.

We continue to give because we know timely care and support can save lives. In Jay’s memory, we are committed to helping others through Jay’s Hope Fund at SMA Healthcare Foundation. The fund supports mental health education and suicide prevention, including the annual “Who is Jay” Mental Health Symposium—turning our loss into hope for others.”

I still remember a lunch I had with Rev. Hal Marchman in 1960, when he shared the story behind what would become a life-changing organization. He spoke about how he and Leon Stewart, both of whom had personally struggled with alcohol use, came together with a shared purpose: to create a nonprofit dedicated to helping others facing similar challenges. From their lived experiences, a powerful and compassionate mission was born.

That mission has grown significantly over the years. Following the merger of the Stewart-Marchman Center with ACT in 2008, SMA Healthcare continues to expand its reach and impact. In today’s fast-paced and often overwhelming world, more people than ever find themselves in vulnerable circumstances, underscoring the critical need for accessible, professional behavioral healthcare. SMA now serves approximately over 40,000 individuals across six counties in Florida each year.

My wife, Cici, and I, along with Brown & Brown, have proudly supported SMA for many years. We believe deeply in its mission and the difference it makes in people’s lives, and we look forward to continuing that support well into the future.

When I attended the annual dinner for SMA in 2019, I had no idea it would save my daughter’s life. Within the next 24 months SMA provided crisis detox for both my daughter and her boyfriend. They also guided me through the Marchman Act process allowing me to support our family through rehab. The fight was the most difficult in my life and giving up was never an option, but I didn’t feel alone with the support and guidance of SMA. Both my daughter and her boyfriend fought through extremely difficult times and experienced sobriety. Her boyfriend left SMA rehab and said he felt the best he had ever felt, but he returned to Orlando and wasn’t able to maintain his sobriety, passing away in 2022. My daughter has maintained her sobriety, and I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. I truly believe my family might not be the same if I hadn’t found SMA in 2019. I give every month with time, money, and in-kind donations, hoping to help one more mother or child through the fight of a lifetime.