Sponsorship

Community Counseling and Counselor Education

Seventy-five percent of the funds raised by the You Matter 5K will go directly to supporting free mental health care and the education of future counselors at Purdue Fort Wayne.

The majority of these funds will sustain the Counseling Training Clinic, where graduate counseling students provide free, professional therapy to individuals and families in the Fort Wayne community. Each week, the clinic serves over 100 clients — many of whom are in crisis, uninsured, or simply without access to the care they need. These sessions are guided by licensed professionals, but powered by students who are being trained to become the next generation of mental health providers.

In a time of severe state and university budget cuts, the Counseling Training Clinic is now dependent on community support to stay open. Your donation helps cover essential operating costs to keep these life-saving services available and accessible to all — regardless of income.

In addition, a portion of this funding will provide scholarships and continuing education opportunities for counseling students through Chi Eta Sigma, our graduate counseling honor society (see more here). These scholarships allow students to pursue specialized training, attend professional development events, and deepen their ability to serve our community — now and in their future careers.

When you support the You Matter 5K, you're not only helping someone receive free counseling today — you're helping prepare compassionate, highly skilled professionals to carry this work forward tomorrow.

Stop Suicide Northeast Indiana

Twenty-five percent of the funds raised by the You Matter 5K will go to Stop Suicide Northeast Indiana, a local nonprofit working to prevent suicide through awareness, education, and compassionate community support.

This Fort Wayne–based organization plays a vital role in our region by providing life-saving outreach and direct support for those affected by suicide loss. Their work focuses not only on prevention, but on healing — offering space, resources, and connection for families and individuals grieving the unimaginable.

We’re proud to support their Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative, which addresses the alarming rise in suicide rates among Black youth with culturally responsive education and intervention. By working with schools, churches, and families, Stop Suicide is opening conversations that have too often been silenced — and saving lives through understanding, visibility, and care.

Your support helps fund their workshops, support groups, advocacy campaigns, and public events that reduce stigma and empower people to ask for help. Whether it’s a student who learns how to check in on a friend, a parent who attends a grief support group, or a school that receives suicide prevention training — this organization is quietly, powerfully changing lives.

By participating in the You Matter 5K, you’re walking or running for hope, healing, and real impact — right here in northeast Indiana.

Why We Give Close to Home

Our why is simple: we believe the biggest impact starts right here in our own community. Every dollar raised through the You Matter 5K stays local — supporting free mental health care, suicide prevention education, and compassionate support for those who need it most in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana.

By giving close to home, we’re not only helping people survive — we’re helping our neighbors heal, grow, and thrive. Because when one person knows they matter, the ripple effect reaches all of us.