Moving forward & Making a Difference
Over the past four years, we’ve been incredibly encouraged by the support of our family, friends, and community. Your generosity has allowed SBF to take meaningful steps toward addressing the growing mental health crisis. We don’t take that lightly. Every contribution represents trust, and we feel a deep responsibility to turn that trust into real, lasting impact.
Many have reached out asking how SBF’s efforts are making an impact. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, it feels like the right time to share an annual update on the work we’re doing.
At the heart of our mission is a simple but powerful belief: when someone is struggling, the most meaningful intervention often comes from another close person—a friend, a classmate, a family member. That’s why SBF is focused on building an “army” of everyday heroes—people equipped to notice when something isn’t right, ask important questions, and help guide others toward the support they need.
To do this, we’ve concentrated much of our effort and funding on high school and college campuses, where mental health challenges are especially prevalent. We’re proud to share that we now support over 384,000 students enrolled in every public college and university in the state. Working in conjunction with the University System of Georgia, students and faculty across the state now have increased access to two important programs:
Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR): Often described as CPR for mental health, QPR teaches individuals how to recognize the warning signs of a mental health crisis, ask direct and compassionate questions, and connect someone to help quickly. We are especially proud of our daughter, Sophia, who is a Certified QPR Trainer and leading courses at UGA.
Mental Health First Aid: This program provides practical, hands-on training to help people recognize, understand, and respond to
mental health and substance use challenges. It builds confidence and empowers participants to act as calm, compassionate first responders in moments of need. This program is a good fit for teachers, counselors, coaches, youth pastors, and anyone who has an influencing role around youth and young adults.
While this progress is meaningful, there is more to do. We are currently working to expand these programs into Georgia’s trade schools, where more than 150,000 additional students could benefit. This is an area where you may play a key role. If you have a connection to a trade school in our state, we would appreciate an introduction so we may bring this programming to those students.
We’re also excited to share a new initiative made possible through the foundation’s recent grant to Kennesaw State University. Spencer’s fraternity, Theta Chi, chose SBF as its philanthropy beneficiary and has raised over $54,000. Those funds have been reinvested in various ways to benefit students at KSU. The university is launching digital learning modules designed to support student wellbeing through its Wellbeing@KSU program. These interactive modules will be integrated into first-year courses, equipping students with essential coping skills, increasing awareness of available resources, and encouraging early help-seeking. The goal is to give students the tools they need to navigate challenges before they become overwhelming. This new program is rolling out campus wide in fall 2026 and was funded jointly by Theta Chi and SBF.
Closer to home, we continue to be inspired by the community’s support of our annual events. This past fall, The Oconee Cellar hosted its second annual golf tournament benefiting the foundation. It was a wonderful day filled with great weather, live music, and time spent remembering those we’ve lost through similar struggles. Thanks to the generosity of those involved, the event raised more than $70,000 to support our mission.
This year’s tournament is scheduled for Monday, September 14th at
Cuscowilla, and we’re excited to expand the experience. The Sunday evening before another great day of golf, lake resident and Nashville-based songwriter Corey Crowder will help host a special Singer-Songwriter Night with some of his close friends. Guests will hear the stories behind some of the #1 songs we all know and love. It promises to be a memorable event, and we’re thrilled to bring something new and meaningful to our supporters.
As we continue this work, please know how deeply grateful we are for your encouragement, generosity, and belief in what we’re trying to accomplish. Whether your support has been financial, emotional, or simply through staying engaged, it is all appreciated.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like us to host a training for your group, organization, or office. Together, we are making a difference.
Your hugs, shared tears, and shared stories mean a lot to us. Thank you.
Dr. David Bradley
May 2026