The Marco Roffo Memorial Foundation

The Marco Roffo Memorial Foundation Turning Tragedy into Hope, Lighting the Path Forward

The Marco Roffo Memorial Foundation was created to honor the kindness, generosity, and warmth Marco shared so freely. Through scholarships for engineering students and mental health initiatives, we carry his spirit forward—creating hope, building community, and reminding everyone: you are never alone. Guided by the goal of finding the light in darkness, we aim to inspire resilience, foster opportunities, and cultivate a community where support and understanding shine brightly.

06/05/2026

Today, we presented Jack Callahan ‘26 with the first ever Marco Roffo Memorial Foundation scholarship for engineering.

Jack exemplifies the qualities that Marco was so loved for: kindness, resilience, compassion, working hard, and helping others.

We hope that through our annual scholarship we will foster a desire to learn, grow, and help others through engineering, a career Marco was so proud of, while increasing awareness and support for mental health.

Thank you all for your ongoing and generous support that allows us to support young engineering students like Jack.

Throughout the year, we will be sharing mental health tips and awareness based on what facet of mental health that month...
06/01/2026

Throughout the year, we will be sharing mental health tips and awareness based on what facet of mental health that month is dedicated to. Our goal is to spread awareness of these observances and increase support for those who are struggling with their own mental health. Resources for receiving help are at the end of this newsletter.

This Month
June is Men’s Health Month. This month highlights the importance of maintaining overall health for a demographic that overwhelmingly has their health, especially mental health, minimized and overlooked. Men are more likely to miss regular checkups, more likely to be socially isolated, and four times more likely to die by su***de than women. 100 men die by su***de in America every day. Men’s health often ignores mental health practices and care. But men’s mental health is vital to improve, maintain, and focus on to decrease and prevent su***de attempts.

Mental health is closely tied to physical health. Good physical health leads to an increase of good mental health. They go hand in hand. When one is suffering, the other follows. This month, focus on learning where your physical health affects your mental health. Learn how your body handles stress, exhaustion, worry, and work. Discover the cues your body gives when your mental health is suffering and putting a toll on your physical health. Think like your physical and mental health is often connected because it very well can be. Mental health is health.

And for the men in our lives, take notice of changes in their mood and energy. Check in regularly and treat their emotions with the care they deserve. Talk about emotions and mental health with young and teenage boys. Let them know they are allowed to talk about their feelings and ask for help when they need it. Give them examples of strong men who prioritize their mental health and show them how it’s connected to be a stronger and healthier man, both mentally and physically.

Tips for Improving Mental Health
* Find what works for you to manage stress. Some ideas include: get moving (take a walk, run, go on a hike), prioritize sleep, limit vices (excessive alcohol and caffeine).

* Practice gratitude: studies show that even spending five minutes a day running through a list of things you are grateful for, big or small, even just in your thoughts can improve your outlook on life greatly.

* Spend time with family and friends. Prioritizing the important people in your life is proven to help support good mental health.

* Ask for help: Being a strong man means you ask for help when you need it. It means you let yourself feel your emotions and work through them.

Resources
https://menshealthmonth.org/
https://www.nami.org/stay-connected/events/awareness-events/mens-health-month/
https://www.dhs.gov/archive/employee-resources/news/2023/06/14/june-mens-health-month

May is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 youth (children under 18 years of age) suffe...
05/04/2026

May is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 youth (children under 18 years of age) suffer from mental health disorders, including behavioral and eating disorders. This number has been on the rise in recent years in children under 18 years old. Increased use of social media, underage substance use, abuse (mental, physical, or emotional) and social challenges among peers (e.g: bullying, cyberbullying, or exclusion) have a growing impact on children and teen mental health.

Good mental health practices start in early childhood and as early as age five. It is key in decreasing the toll of mental health disorders in children and teens to begin mental health care as early as possible. While it is not a guarantee to eliminate mental health disorders in the future, helping children understand how their brains and emotions work and how to get a handle on them is a foundational gift we can provide them at a young age.

Mental health is tied to emotional health. As we raise children to handle their emotions and their actions as a result of those emotions, the “why” to explain their emotions or actions is just as important. It is vital to treat mental health just as we do physical health.

As children grow up, when mental health issues arise, if provided with understanding and support, they are far less likely to suffer from severe mental health disorders or suicidal thoughts or attempts. As family members and friends, we can all support one another from childhood to adulthood by showing examples of good mental health practices, being supportive of others who are going through difficult times, and sharing resources and knowledge with the next generation.

***deprevention

Thank you to The Boston Foundation for your generous grant to help our mission. We appreciate your generosity and suppo...
04/23/2026

Thank you to The Boston Foundation for your generous grant to help our mission. We appreciate your generosity and support!

Ashland High School seniors, if you are going into engineering, you are eligible to apply for our scholarship. The deadl...
04/15/2026

Ashland High School seniors, if you are going into engineering, you are eligible to apply for our scholarship.

The deadline to apply is May 10th. You can access the application through your student portal.

Today on Marco’s birthday, we are remembering and honoring his life, love for family, joy in the little things, and room...
03/26/2026

Today on Marco’s birthday, we are remembering and honoring his life, love for family, joy in the little things, and room-filling presence.

We miss him today and every day, but are reminded that his legacy is alive and his impact will continue on through our foundation’s work.

Today at the State House, our President Melanie Roffo and our foundation were honored by the Massachusetts Coalition for...
03/17/2026

Today at the State House, our President Melanie Roffo and our foundation were honored by the Massachusetts Coalition for Su***de Prevention, receiving the 2026 Leadership in Su***de Prevention Award.

We are honored and grateful to have been recognized at this event along with many others who work across the state to spread mental health awareness and support.

This award is a reminder that our work is meaningful and that Marco’s legacy is touching lives in ways we may not even be aware of.

Thank you to the MCSP and Representative Jack Lewis for supporting our work.

***deprevention

March 8th thru the 14th is National Sleep Awareness Week. Sleep is closely connected to mental health. Sleep is vital to...
03/08/2026

March 8th thru the 14th is National Sleep Awareness Week. Sleep is closely connected to mental health. Sleep is vital to creating strong mental health habits and maintaining them.

National Sleep Awareness Week is linked to Daylight Savings Time because when we “spring ahead,” we lose an hour of sleep. Even one lost hour can affect our mood, increase fatigue, and disrupt our sleep patterns. As the days get longer and sunlight extends into the evening, we naturally may feel more energized. But we still need to make an effort to get good sleep. It is important to set ourselves up for success this spring by prioritizing sleep and maintaining healthy habits.

Sleep, or lack thereof, is closely linked to mental health, particularly depression, anxiety, and levels of stress. This upcoming week is a great reminder to focus on sleeping habits and improve them. Chronic loss of sleep increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and impact emotional regulation.

Sleep should be the number one priority when it comes to maintaining and strengthening mental health. It is often overlooked, but as more and more research is done, it becomes undeniable that good sleep = better mental health.

While good sleep does not begin to solve all mental health disorders, it is a great starting point. Regulating our sleep is something we can try to control. As difficult as it can be to fall asleep at night or wake up refreshed, the more we prioritize a consistent sleep schedule and recognize the impact sleep has on our daily lives, the better we can handle mental health challenges as they come.

Tips for Improving Mental Health with Good Sleep

- Avoid screens and blue light right before bed (about 30-60 minutes before bed)
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule (even on the weekends)
- Limit caffeine late in the day
- Avoid sugar 2-3 hours before bed
- Exercise earlier in the day
- Try reading to relax before bed
- Limit the length of daytime naps and avoid taking them late in the afternoon

02/15/2026

Last evening, competed with our foundation name and logo on his uniform to honor Marco and spread awareness of not only our mission but also for mental health support.

Thank you for using your platform for good and thank you to all those who came to cheer him on!

Last evening, competed with our foundation name and logo on his uniform to honor Marco and spread awareness of not only...
02/15/2026

Last evening, competed with our foundation name and logo on his uniform to honor Marco and spread awareness of not only our mission but also for mental health support.

Thank you for using your platform for good and thank you to all those who came to cheer him on!

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Ashland, MA

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