Community Story

Turning Loss into Lifesaving Action

Through their fund, the Spencer Bradley Foundation for Mental Health, they provide training for students, young adults, teachers, coaches, pastors, and others who have the opportunity to engage in critical conversations with those showing mental health struggles.

June 6th, 2022, was a busy Monday morning in their dental practice. Dr. David and Dr. Patti Bradley were hard at work when they received word that two Sheriff's officers needed to speak with them.

“There’s no easy way to tell you this,” one of the deputies started, “but Spencer took his life last night.”

No parent could possibly be prepared for such a moment.

Spencer was a nineteen-year-old college student at Kennesaw State University. Although he had some mental health challenges in the past, everyone agreed that he was the happiest he had ever been. He was making straight A’s. He had a great group of friends and was an active member of his fraternity. Friends even shared that Spencer used his experiences to help them through hard times.

No one saw this coming.

Patti, David, and Spencer’s sister, Sophia, were determined to redirect their grief into something that could make a difference. A friend who worked in the non-profit world asked if they wanted to start a foundation. They were put in touch with the Athens Area Community Foundation for guidance. With their help, they were able to start a donor-advised fund in a short period of time.

Patti recalls, “We had to decide if we wanted to keep our experience as a private family matter or to share it to help make a difference in the lives of others. We made a conscious choice not to let this tragedy destroy us. Something positive had to come out of this.”

“We knew we couldn’t be the only ones going through this,” adds David. “The more we learned, the more we realized how much suicide touches everyone.”

The Bradley family chose the Athens Area Community Foundation for its local expertise and guidance. “Once we learned how the process worked, it was obvious they were best positioned to help us make the most impact. They are tapped into our immediate area better than anyone else,” David explains. With the Community Foundation’s connections, the couple can reach their target of youth and young adults struggling with mental health, a demographic that is often underserved.

Through their fund, the Spencer Bradley Foundation for Mental Health, they provide training for students, young adults, teachers, coaches, pastors, and others who have the opportunity to engage in critical conversations with those showing mental health struggles. The trainings teach them what to look for, both in themselves and others, so that they can address mental health challenges in a wise and helpful way.

There are simply not enough professionals to address all the mental health needs that exist in today’s world. The Spencer Bradley Foundation aims to equip regular people with knowledge to recognize signs of crisis, addictions, or other disorders, and offer tools to support friends and peers.

The foundation primarily provides grants for established, effective programs such as Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid, QPR (Question-Persuade-Refer), community peer-to-peer training, and scholarships for those entering the mental health field. The foundation now provides support for training programs in every public college and university in Georgia. This makes the life-saving information accessible to over 387,000 students.

Patti shares, “It’s about awareness, but it’s also about letting people know that it’s okay to not be okay. Education breaks down the stigma of mental health challenges. It’s about asking the right questions and then listening.” David adds, “We’re trying to create an army of laypeople with the skillset to recognize someone in need and then provide support for them until they can get professional help.”

Helping people recognize signs and fostering the conversations to get people help is a huge part of the heartbeat behind the Spencer Bradley Foundation.

One recent example highlighted the impact of their work: a University of Georgia student who went through one of the programs became a student ambassador at the university. He shared his story at a recent golf tournament that benefited the SBF. He explained how the program not only helped him personally, but also gave him knowledge to use in the future with his own family, friends, and coworkers.

David says, “It was great for us to hear his story, but also impactful for the donors to hear the success that is being made through their support. We never envisioned ourselves in this position, but it’s gratifying to know other families have, and will be, saved from the devastating aftermath of a loved one committing suicide.”

For the Bradleys, Athens Area Community Foundation’s support has been essential. “We couldn’t have had the impact we’ve had in this short period of time without their help, guidance, and connections,” Patti says. The Foundation’s guidance allows them to focus on meaningful impact rather than logistics, helping the foundation ensure its giving is strategic and sustainable.