The Lynch Foundation in Burley has made significant strides in raising awareness and funds for mental health and suicide prevention, amassing hundreds of thousands of dollars through its annual event. This week’s focus is on their impactful efforts and the community’s unwavering support.
Jim Lynch, owner and CEO of Lynch Holdings, was profoundly affected when someone close to his family, Shaylon Shaffer, their CFO, took his own life. “He was like my third son,” Lynch shared. “I have two boys, and he was always hanging out with them. When that happened, I knew we needed to step up and start changing things.”
Shaffer’s passing in 2018 spurred friends and colleagues at the Lynch Foundation to find ways to address mental health and suicide prevention in their community. They initially launched a golf tournament in Arizona, which later moved back to Idaho and saw immense success in subsequent years.
This year marked the seventh annual event, and the foundation opted for a new approach: a gala. Despite the format change, the goal remained the same—to add to the $596,000 already raised from previous events for mental health and suicide prevention.
“What amazes me is the amount of volunteer hours that come in,” Lynch said. “I would have thought there were hundreds of hours, but there are thousands. The community support has been phenomenal, and we hope this continues for another 10 to 20 years.”
The gala featured a live and silent auction, a live band, and a raffle with many prizes. Numerous speakers shared impactful statements about losing a family member or friend to suicide, emphasizing the importance of mental health.
“Mental health impacts all of us,” Lynch remarked. “You think of guys that are six-foot-six and weigh three hundred pounds, they’re big and muscular, but even they have problems. We decided we have to make a difference every day. We still lose some, but we like to think we are saving some and making a difference too.”
The community’s collective effort made a significant impact, raising a gross total of $200,000 at the gala. This brings the foundation’s grand total of funds raised to nearly $800,000 in less than 10 years—a truly remarkable achievement.
The Lynch Foundation’s dedication to mental health awareness and suicide prevention continues to inspire and bring hope to many, demonstrating the power of community support and volunteerism in making a real difference.
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