Funding Opportunity for Prevention of Older Adult Suicide Programming

Jerry Williams Memorial Fund Now Accepting Applications

Grant funding totaling $50,000 is available for programs supporting the prevention of older adult suicide in Ohio. The Jerry Williams Memorial Fund was established in 2023, with support from the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, to honor the memory of Jerry Williams, who lost his life to suicide at age 74. The fund is dedicated to saving the lives of older adults, a group often lost in suicide prevention outreach activities.

Eligible applicants include Ohio-based suicide prevention organizations, programs, services, and efforts targeting Ohioans 65 and older. The application deadline is August 16, 2024. More information about the fund and the application is available at https://www.jerryswalk.org/jerrywilliams-memorialfund-application.

According to statistics by the Centers for Disease Control, suicide rates are higher per capita among older adults, particularly those over 65. Historically, less attention has been paid to research and prevention efforts targeting this age group than younger populations. The Jerry Williams Memorial Fund was created to correct this oversight. The fund supports the development of creative yet practical ideas of how best to tackle stigma and reach senior adults to reduce the rising rate of suicide among them.

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For more information about the Jerry Williams Memorial Fund, contact Sandy Williams at jerrywilliamsfund@gmail.com.