The organization will hold its second annual Ice Fisheree to raise funds and awareness on January 15; this year, a percentage of funds is allocated to the new Driftless Warrior Project
“Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), accounting for one in every 100 deaths,” reports the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the risk factors associated with suicidal behaviors and calls for prioritizing its prevention,” the report continues.
In Wisconsin, a new organization is intent on raising awareness about suicide prevention: The Driftless Foundation was “founded in 2020 by friends for friends and based out of Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.” The Foundation’s goal is “outreach to our local Driftless Area communities in the area of mental health awareness and suicide prevention.”
Allie Klein, Driftless Foundation president, says she founded the organization because “I have struggled with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts, myself; and I have lost many friends to this illness. Knowing how hard 2020 was on my mental health I knew we needed to do something to help others that could be struggling in our rural communities.”
Other members include Maria Baker (vice president), Amanda Fahey (secretary), Brittany Marley/Emily Rocksvold, (treasurer); and volunteers Ryan Baker, Alex Berge, Tyler Baughman, Cory McGeough, Tom Schaefer, and Cyndi Scheetz.
Ice Fisheree
The Driftless Foundation held a fundraising event, its first annual Ice Fisheree, in Prairie du Chien last year. The event helped them donate money to organizations like Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health, County Department of Human Services offices, and NAMI Wisconsin.
The Foundation is hosting its second annual Ice Fisheree For Suicide Awareness and Prevention at the Crooked Oar in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on Saturday, January 15, 2022. The event includes a silent auction, door prizes, live music, and raffles. All proceeds go to mental health and suicide awareness programs in the local Driftless Area.
“We’ve also held a few social events to get people out and connected, and to educate and discuss these topics with people — to help normalize talking about it and to help stop the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness,” Klein says. She says it’s a myth “that talking about suicide cause spikes. (Talking about it) actually allows people to open up, and feel they can discuss that they are having problems,” she says. “We as a society need to make it more of an okay topic to talk about.”
Driftless Warrior Project
This year, the Driftless Foundation announces the launch of its Driftless Area Warrior Project – focused on raising funds for Driftless Area veterans and service members. In recognition of “the 22 veterans who lose their battle with suicide every day,” 22% of all proceeds from this year’s Ice Fisheree will go directly to the Driftless Warrior Project to help local veterans in need. Applications are being accepted at the Foundation’s website (thedriftlessfoundation.org).
Klein says people need each other now more than ever. “As a community we can be the difference; if we can save just one life, we have accomplished our mission.”