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About Us
Why We Exist
Throughout 2013 in the US alone over 40,000 people died by suicide and since the early 2000's suicide rates have been increasing steadily causing more deaths then homicide. Awareness of mental health warning signs and resources are critically important to help those with mental illness and to decrease the suicide rate. The April T. Bocian Memorial Foundation is a nonprofit that seeks to honor April's memory by providing mental health education and resources to individuals.
from the bocian family
Our family would like to extend our sincere gratitude for the outpouring of love, prayers and support during this difficult time.
The “footprint poem” states that God carries “YOU” when times are difficult and that he never leaves your side. Our family has true faith in God and that there is a greater purpose for all things that happen in our lives. We firmly believe God has carried “US” by sending his angels to help us through this most difficult time.
These angels have been our family, our friends and our community……everyone that has touched April’s life that has reached out with their hearts to comfort our family. We are truly blessed.
We will continue to pray for all those souls that have left this earth way too soon and are dearly missed. We pray that every life that April touched……which is more than we could ever have imagined…. remember her for the very kind, compassionate person she was. April was always performing random acts of kindness. Some of these acts have been told and written to us to relay to our family what a special human being April truly was and what an impact she made in their lives. We are honored that individuals are continuing this ritual of “random acts of kindness” in her memory and in turn making this world a better place.
April would not want to be remembered as a gifted athlete (although she was) but rather as a beautiful soul… and that was the true definition of April.
Our purpose in starting the April T. Bocian Foundation is to honor Aprils’ memory and to help other families avoid the pain of losing a loved one due to suicide. We will undertake this endeavor by educating the public and our schools systems on mental illness. Having a voice is a sign of courage……please help us to use our voices to eradicate the stigma that mental illness evokes so our strongest athletes and most gifted individuals do not continue to suffer in silence.
Love your neighbor as yourself
A poem written by April shortly before her death.
“You are to live with boundless compassion,
Just as Jesus did through his passion.
As he loved us, we should love one another,
Sharing the joys and pains of one another.
Feeling another’s happiness or hurt as one’s own,
Not a single person would be alone.
Together we shall participate in a union of love.
And all will end up, side by side, in Heaven above.”
Donate to the Foundation
$0.00
What will your donation assist with?
- Academic & Basketball Scholarships throughout the Tri-State Area.
- Donations to AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) among other nonprofits that educate society on mental illness
- Annual Sponsorship of the AFSP Pittsburgh "Out of the Darkness Walk"
- Elite Sponsorship of the EmpowHER retreat, founded in April’s memory, to help young girls to reach their full potential teaching them confidence, resiliency and community service