Hope and Healing
On Friday, February 5, 2016, Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention (FISP) held its 11th Annual HOPE Gala honoring Harry and Jackie Rosen, the founders of FISP. They were presented with the 2016 Humanitarian Award for their persistent dedication to the mission of suicide prevention. The Mardi Gras-themed gala had begun with a cocktail party and herculean silent auction before the guests entered the adjoining room for an inspirational, touching evening. Helping out with the event were several high school students who participate in the 17 Hope/Sunshine Clubs currently running in Broward County.
The evening was filled with hope and healing, from the Wall of Hope to the touching Candle Lighting Ceremony. Both are new additions to FISP’s annual gala. Guests were invited to write a name or message of a loved one and tie it on to the Wall of Hope, built and donated by Studio 75 in Weston. Candles were available to purchase ($10) in honor or in memory of
a loved one. Just before the candle lighting ceremony, 11 individuals came on stage one at a time to take off their (Mardi Gra) mask and share the reason they were part of this fundraiser for suicide prevention. I was honored to facilitate the candle lighting ceremony, along with Mariann Marinberg, and share with everyone the importance of being part of the solution in educating as many people as possible. As the guests held their lit candles in front of them, we began with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.” The ceremony represented so many different things to each individual – from courage, love, and hopefulness, to so much more. While it was a night filled with awareness and education, it was also therapeutic and healing for so many people.
Seeing the community come together for such as significant and, unfortunately, prevalent cause touched my heart. Harry and Jackie Rosen truly deserved to be honored for all the amazing work they do for suicide prevention awareness.
