SMILES FOR JAKE

On February 21st, 2018 we lost a teammate, brother, and dear friend. Jake Haapajoki. Jake was someone who never stopped smiling and was loved by all. In honor of the impact he had on all who knew him, we are taking action to better mental health in our school and community. It is the mission of Smiles for Jake to be a catalyst for the improvement of mental health and suicide prevention on a local level by focusing on community-based solutions. Specifically, these actions will include:

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Raising funds necessary to support voluntary mental health screenings for all Brainerd High School and Forestview Middle School students.

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Promoting programs and events which will create and sustain a supportive atmosphere of community for the betterment of mental health within our school.

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In sum, recognizing that mental health is a deeply personal issue and one which affects our community, we will strive to make a local, lasting impact in our school. We also aspire to be a beacon of change for other communities.