Johnny Foundation

Awareness Facts
Possible Warning

Signs of Suicide
Possible Warning Symptoms of

Depression
Possible Symptoms

of a depressed

child

Thank you ...

The Johnny Foundation would like to thank everyone who supported the 2nd annual Johnny Leathers, Jr. Memorial Tennis Tournament held on May 31st, 2008. 42 players participated and raised $2,000 which was added to the $18,000 raised at the 5th annual Johnny Leathers, Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament. The Golf Tournament was held on May 3, 2008 with 106 golfers.

The Johnny Foundation has have been blessed to help fund an online screening project for college students at Emory University through the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP). (more ...)

We will also be a $1,000 sponsor of the Atlanta AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk being held on November 2, 2008 at Piedmont Park and invite you to walk with us on Team Johnny Atlanta. (more event info...)

We will also contribute $4,000 to the Johnny Leathers Jr. Memorial Fund established with Dr. Brenda Wagner in Roswell, GA to help fund Christian counseling for anyone suffering with depression but not able to pay for sessions. (more...)

Your support is what makes this all possible. We may never know how many lives will be touched because of your generosity and we are blessed to have your support. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can ever help you in any way.

Thank you for being a blessing to The Johnny Foundation,

Wayne, Lisa, Trish and Tina
The Leathers Family

The Johnny Foundation was formed to raise awareness of depression and to promote education on suicide prevention. It is named in remembrance of Johnny Leathers, Jr. who ended his life at the young age of 21 on August 29, 2000. Untreated depression is the #1 cause of suicide and every 18 minutes someone in the U.S. takes their own life and every 19 minutes family and friends are left behind to try to understand and carry on. It is too late to help Johnny but it is not too late for the nearly one million people that attempt suicide every year. Our prayer is that God will use the organization to shine His light in the darkness that so many people struggle with by providing resources, help and hope.

We wish we had known then what we have learned since August 29th, 2000, but it’s not too late for you, your family or your friends. We beg you to educate yourselves. This illness knows no boundaries and can happen to anyone. Of the millions of Americans who suffer from depression only 30% seek help. We hope to raise those percentages and fight the social stigma of depression/mental illness through outreach, education, awareness, sharing our survival story and continue to follow down the path God has provided us to make good out of the horrible loss of Johnny who will be in our hearts forever. It is our prayer that our efforts will make a difference and no other family will have to walk this journey we are walking. We have seen evidence through these efforts that there is help and there is hope.

Please take a moment to look through the website and contact us if you have any questions or suggestions. We just want to share our hearts and the knowledge that we have found helpful in our journey.