This foundation is being set up in FRANCESCO’S name to help prevent other teenagers from being tormented, cyber bullied, gossiped about, and/or discriminated against. We hope to transform our grief into action!
The foundation’s purpose will be to provide a bridge for parents and educators to know what children are experiencing on-line in order to prevent cyber bullying and harassment leading to the deterioration of mental health, self harm or in extreme cases, suicide.
Francesco died on October 21, 2021. He was 17 years old and had been the victim of malicious rumors and cyber bullying . Prior to his quick spiral downwards he had been a happy, star student with everything to look forward to in the world. He was a victim of spiteful lies due to his sexual orientation. Francesco was experimenting and had not identified as gay, bisexual or straight but because of his openness at his school in Long Island he was the subject of vicious lies and ridicule. One night he was unable to take any more and he had a very uncharacteristic night of recklessness and although he had not set out to-Francesco did end his life on a moonlit beach in Southampton.
TEEN SUICIDE STATISTICS
Teen suicide rates in the United States have increased at an alarming pace over the past decade. We are committed to seeing these rates go down by addressing core issues that give agency to self-harm within young adults.
4 TIMES HIGHER
LGBTQ+ YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE
3,703 YOUTHS
ATTEMPT TO TAKE THEIR LIVES EACH DAY
ONE IN FIVE
AMERICAN TEENAGERS CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE
48% OF TEENS
WHO IDENTIFY AS BISEXUAL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SUICIDE
EVERY 7 HOURS
A U.S. TEEN TAKES THEIR LIFE BY FIREARM (ON AVG BETWEEN 2019-20)
3 PILLARS OF FRANCESCO’S FOUNDATION
The Francesco Foundation will aim to take on three pillars of reform and education with the intersectionality of mental health tying into each pillar.
Our mission to battle ignorance, prejudice, and fear will be at the forefront of the foundation’s activities.
GUN SAFETY & LEGISLATION
Gun logic. Let’s go beyond typical pull quotes and statistics. We should have logical discussions and legislation behind gun safety.
EDUCATING PARENTS & TEACHERS ON LGBTQ+ BULLYING
TECHNOLOGY REFORM & EDUCATION
TALK WITH SOMEONE NOW
If you or someone you know is looking for immediate help, please reach out to the links with the Trevor Project.
Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
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