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by Marlee Crozier
Web Editor
On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 15, North Sanpete School District received a large donation of $10,000 from Lacey Rosenloff, an NS alumna and suicide awareness advocate.
“I have to tell you a story, and it’s a miracle. O’Dee and I were in the office and he said, ‘I really need this presenter to come and work with teachers and parents, and I don’t have the funds,’” Superintendent Nan Ault said. “So we were brainstorming ideas to get the funds together, and the second that [Lacey] called I was almost in tears, and I said I have a solution for you…[Lacey] is providing the funding.”
The $10,000 gifted for the opportunity for a presenter began with community support following a tragic event.
“I lost my brother to suicide almost two years ago and we did a [softball] tournament for awareness of mental health, suicide,” Rosenloff said. “And with the funds that we raise we want to put back into the community. I want to be able to use it for things to make it better, be able to have resources like [this presenter].”
The funds didn’t come easily as the fundraiser day proved to have it’s own challenges.
“We [did the fundraiser in] October of ‘21. The weather was crap, it was raining and muddy and cold. So it was not good softball weather, it was terrible softball weather,” Rosenloff said. “But everyone knew what the cause was for and were all in such good spirits, you could just feel the love there and that meant so much.”
While Ault and O’Dee Hansen, assistant superintendent, were searching for funds, Rosenloff was in search of a speaker.
“I have looked for a speaker for months on social media, but I couldn’t find any that were sticking out to me,” Rosenloff said. “I talked to the state director for the HOPE Squad, and she said why don’t you reach out to your district administrator, so I called Nan and she said, ‘You are seriously an answer to O’Dee’s prayer.’”
Together, Hansen and Rosenloff were able to book inspirational speaker Jody Carrington for this upcoming August.
“Jody’s awesome, I think she will teach resilience and belonging,” Rosenloff said. “She will do a whole day of training for staff and then a community night for parents and kids. I hope it makes a difference for the counselors and teachers because I feel that is where [community awareness] all starts.”
Rosenloff values the importance of awareness and connection sprouting within school districts, which makes Carrington a perfect fit as the speaker Rosenloff was searching for.
“[Carrington] has written several books and presented to groups all over the nation. She focuses on the importance of connection with students,” Hansen said. “Many of us don’t know how to help our struggling youth, and they are not equipped to help themselves. We see many young adults dying by suicide and it is sad. The focus will be on suicide prevention, dealing with trauama and connections.”
Rosenloff hopes her donated funds will benefit schools and any students that are struggling as her brother did.
“We need you, there are so many people out there to help you with what you are struggling with,” Rosenloff said. “There is nothing on Earth that someone can’t help you through and there is no shame in asking. Just stay.”
