Gabriel’s Light was founded in 2019 by Carol and Brendan Deely in memory of their son, Gabriel Chufamo Deely, who died by suicide at the age of twelve. Driven by that profound loss, the organization works to prevent youth suicide by transforming mental health awareness into empowering action by bringing clear, compassionate, and evidence-based programming directly into schools and youth-serving spaces at no cost.
Through their work, young people learn to recognize warning signs, support their peers, and seek help from trusted adults. Parents, educators, and other adults in young people’s lives receive parallel resources to help them identify those same warning signs, reduce stigma, and create environments where help-seeking is welcomed and encouraged.
“One of the reasons we granted to Gabriel’s Light was the fact that they offer a wide range of training to support students, adults working with youth, and parents alike,” said Mary Jo Butz, co-founder of Meg’s Legacy of Hope. “Their training is complemented by a youth ambassador program that raises awareness about suicide through open conversations and social media.”
Over five years, Gabriel’s Light educators and volunteers have engaged nearly 100,000 youth, parents, and educators through presentations, workshops, youth ambassador initiatives, and community events.
How Your Donation Makes a Difference
With a $25,000 Meg’s Legacy of Hope grant, Gabriel’s Light will expand its Ask and Act: Turning Youth Mental Health Awareness into Action training to 12 Chicago schools — most of them in under-resourced neighborhoods where young people have had limited access to mental health education. The program pursues six interconnected goals:
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Build mental health literacy. Students learn to recognize stress, anxiety, depression, and warning signs of suicide in themselves and others, using age-appropriate, stigma-reducing language.
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Reduce stigma and increase help-seeking. Students feel safer talking about what they’re experiencing and are more willing to ask for support.
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Teach coping strategies and clear action steps. Students gain practical skills and know exactly what to do, including how to approach a trusted adult, when they’re worried about themselves or a peer.
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Reduce bullying and promote kindness. By addressing exclusion and online cruelty and teaching empathy, respect, and the impact of words and actions, the program works to build safer, more supportive school environments.
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Promote early intervention. Students are empowered to ask directly about suicide when they’re concerned about a friend, and to connect that peer to a teacher, counselor, coach, parent, or other trusted adult as early as possible.
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Strengthen peer connection and school climate. The program fosters a culture where students feel seen, supported, and valued, and where reaching out, for themselves or someone else, is understood as a sign of strength.