On Thanksgiving in 2018, Danielle Leedy and her family, a core group of about 20+, discussed what kind of business they would run if they were to start one. A few years later, after Danielle had taken her own life, her mother Donna Heck, president and treasurer of 33 Forever, Inc. discovered the conversation on tape.
“She [Danielle], you just find five people, you have a dream, and you get things going. You never know what it’s going to evolve into because it’s an organic thing,”
“Dani has worked a lot since she’s been gone in Heaven – moving chess pieces around and putting people in our lives to make things really happen,” Donna said.
33 Forever, Inc., was founded by the family and friends of Danielle Leedy, who lost a long battle to chronic depression in February of 2019 at 33 years old. It is a non-profit organization created to both honor Danielle’s life and her longtime passion to raise awareness as well as to empower and comfort those struggling with mental health issues.
“She was very much a mental health advocate and took care of her mental health for many, many years. She was working with me and wanted to try to find a platform where she could speak and talk to people about mental health awareness,” Jeff Heck, Dani’s step father and 33 Forever board chair, said.
After her passing, those who surrounded her decided that suicide could not be her legacy, and 33 Forever, Inc. was created.
33 Forever, Inc. now serves as a sort of connecting agency for those struggling. Because of their personal experience, they can approach the community with extreme empathy, and connect them to various organizations that could be the perfect fit to meet their needs.
Through their five years of work, they’ve forged great bonds within the mental health world – for both adults and children. They also have a professional advisory committee made up of mental health professionals, from psychiatrists to psychologists to mental health counselors.
“Whenever we need better information than we can provide as the lay people with the lived experience, then we use that group to help us make the right connection to people when they reach out to us,” Jeff said.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month as well as the month of Danielle’s birthday, sparking the idea for the 33 Forever Mental Health Birthday Walk. The 4th Annual Event took place on Saturday, May 18th, 2024.
The walk, 3.3km (2 miles) started at Richland Carrousel Park, ending in the same area. Afterward, free carousel rides were available, as well as other family-friendly activities like a reptile adventure and balloon artist.
Information booths from area mental health providers, like Hope 419 or National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), among many others and food were also available. Prior year sponsors returned, and new ones joined.
“Each year, the money raised, which has been anywhere from $40,000-$80,000 goes to different specific causes or projects that we have been working towards,” Donna said.
33 Forever, Inc. also gives four scholarships to local high school students each year, and the long-term funding of those scholarships was that cause this year.
“It was another great event with perfect spring weather and we know Dani would’ve loved talking with you all there today,” The Hecks said.
33 Forever, Inc. strives to help de-stigmatize mental health issues, and to help each person who crosses their path connect with the right resources for their need. If you are interested in learning more about 33 Forever, Inc., visit their website. Please note that 33 Forever, Inc. should not be treated as a substitute for mental or psychological advice, care, or treatment.
For immediate help, here are some hotlines you can try: National Suicide Crisis Lifeline: 9-8-8, Text: MHA to 741741 from anywhere in the US.
#fight4dani