The Jonathan Foundation

The Jonathan Foundation The Jonathan C. Smith Foundation DBA The Jonathan Foundation The Jonathan Foundation was started in 2011 after the loss of my youngest son, Jonathan.

Jonathan grew up in church and accepted Christ when he was 9 years old. He attended the local Christian School and grew up playing sports-baseball, then soccer, then basketball, then football. He traded one favorite for the next. Having above average coordination and agility, he was good at all of them. Having above average intelligence, he could quote the stats for any of the professional or coll

ege teams. Jonathan had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh, and could lighten up any situation. He had a beautiful smile, a warm heart, and easy going disposition most of the time. In 9th grade, Jonathan began experiencing increased maladaptive patterns with withdrawal from interest in school and sports, became subject to wide mood swings with manic episodes characterized by poor impulse control and judgment. Jonathan had experienced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder since second grade. Upon SPECT brain scanning (Amen clinics), it was determined that Jonathan had an overall hyperactive or 'ring of fire' brain with six subtypes of attention deficit disorder. Upon further evaluation, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and entered treatment with the Amen clinics. On May 25, 2011, in the ultimate manic episode, Jonathan, 17, became part of the growing statistic of youth suicide. Youth suicide is a growing epidemic in the US, currently the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24. Youth suicide is preventable. It requires understanding the salient features that may indicate that a mental disorder is manifesting. It requires education and frank discussions with teens, as well as, counseling on effective coping mechanisms and adaptive behaviors. It requires engagement and connection of parents, students, and education in prevention efforts. I hold onto my eternal hope that I will see my son again. Until that time-- I will do all I can, our Foundation will do all we can, to reach out to hurting teens and stop youth suicide. You can join this work. Get involved and make a difference in the life of a teen. Thank you for your support of The Jonathan Foundation.

What happens when hundreds of people spend a day learning how to better support mental health in their community?The imp...
06/04/2026

What happens when hundreds of people spend a day learning how to better support mental health in their community?

The impact doesn’t stay inside the conference room.

It goes back into classrooms, churches, doctor’s offices, counseling practices, first responder agencies, workplaces, and homes throughout Florence County.

At this year’s Brighter Days Conference, community leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, parents, faith leaders, and advocates came together to learn practical strategies for supporting brain health, recognizing mental health challenges, reducing stigma, and creating stronger support systems for those who need them most.

Every conversation matters.

Every person equipped with more knowledge matters.

Every life reached through education, advocacy, and support matters.

The Jonathan Foundation’s mission extends far beyond a single day. The goal is a healthier, more informed, more connected community where individuals and families know they are not alone and where help is available.

Thank you to everyone who chose to invest their time, energy, and heart into making Florence County stronger.

Together, we are building brighter days ahead.

💙 Education
💙 Advocacy
💙 Support

06/04/2026

For people living with depression, finding a treatment that works can feel overwhelming, especially when medications and traditional therapies haven't provided enough relief.

That's where transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, can help.

TMS is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. It can be life-changing for patients with treatment-resistant depression, helping many experience significant symptom improvement without the side effects often associated with medication.

MUSC Health has been at the forefront of TMS since Dr. Mark George became the first physician to apply the technology to the brain for treating depression. Today, MUSC is a world leader in TMS research and innovation, advancing personalized approaches such as SAINT, a rapid form of brain stimulation that is helping transform care for depression and other mental health conditions.

For patients who have been struggling to find relief, TMS offers something powerful: hope.

Learn more:
https://musc.co/4u4jOmP

Hundreds gathered. Conversations started. Lives were impacted.Last week’s Brighter Days Conference brought together educ...
06/01/2026

Hundreds gathered. Conversations started. Lives were impacted.

Last week’s Brighter Days Conference brought together educators, healthcare professionals, first responders, faith leaders, parents, advocates, and community members with a shared commitment to improving mental health and brain health in our communities.

Throughout the day, attendees explored practical tools, innovative approaches, real-world solutions, and meaningful conversations designed to create lasting change.

From the opening session to the breakout tracks and the VIP discussion with Dr. Amen on the Whole4Faith Initiative, one message was clear:

No one organization can do this alone. It takes all of us.

The work continues long after the conference ends.

The Jonathan Foundation remains committed to providing education, advocacy, support, and resources that help individuals, families, schools, churches, and communities thrive.

Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, volunteered, sponsored, and supported this year’s conference.

This is only the beginning.

💙 Education.
💙 Advocacy.
💙 Support.
💙 Brighter Days Ahead.

Some conferences give information.Some create conversation.And some become a turning point for an entire community.The B...
05/26/2026

Some conferences give information.
Some create conversation.
And some become a turning point for an entire community.

The Brighter Days Conference has become a space where faith leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, parents, advocates, and families can come together and have the conversations that too many people are afraid to start.

Not surface-level awareness.
Real stories.
Real tools.
Real hope.

This conference exists because mental health impacts every family, every church, every school, and every community and people deserve support that is compassionate, informed, and accessible.

If you attended this year, what impacted you most?
What conversation stayed with you?
What moment made you feel hopeful?

We’d love for you to share your experience below and help us spread the word about what’s happening through the Jonathan Foundation and the Brighter Days Conference.

Because brighter days ahead starts with people willing to show up for one another.

15 years ago today, Heaven gained one of the brightest souls we’ve ever known. 💙Jonathan was 17: funny, talented, warm, ...
05/25/2026

15 years ago today, Heaven gained one of the brightest souls we’ve ever known. 💙

Jonathan was 17: funny, talented, warm, and quietly fighting battles no one fully saw.

Losing him changed everything. And out of that loss, The Jonathan Foundation was born.

On this Heavenversary, the greatest way to honor him is to keep the mission going: reaching teens who are struggling before it’s too late.

Want to make a difference in building brighter days? We’d love to have you volunteer with us. Every moment you give keeps Jonathan’s legacy alive. 💙 Sign up to volunteer: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=iMQmMzN-G0KPWQmjnCa7qrmT7QbqfyBMjlgf5Dn1ZDlUMlgyWFNZVUc3NFpTNEU3Wlg5Uzc4RDNNRC4u

His story doesn’t end here. Neither does ours.

05/24/2026
05/23/2026

"Heaven Took You Early" is a heartbreaking country song about losin...

Yesterday was a reminder that when a community comes together with compassion, education, faith, and a willingness to li...
05/22/2026

Yesterday was a reminder that when a community comes together with compassion, education, faith, and a willingness to listen… real impact happens 💙

The 3rd Annual Brighter Days Conference was filled with people who deeply care about helping others ➡️➡️ educators, healthcare professionals, pastors, first responders, parents, counselors, community leaders, and advocates all gathered in one room with one goal: building brighter days ahead.

Throughout the day, powerful conversations were shared around mental health, su***de prevention, brain health, family support, and practical ways we can better serve those around us. But beyond the information shared, there was something even greater felt in the room; hope.

Again and again, attendees shared how encouraged, refreshed, equipped, and inspired they felt leaving the conference.

That’s what this is all about.

Not just awareness.
Not just conversations.
But equipping people to go back into their homes, schools, churches, workplaces, and communities ready to make a difference.

Thank you to every speaker, sponsor, volunteer, attendee, and community partner who helped make this event so meaningful. Your presence mattered more than you know.

Brighter days truly are ahead. 💙

Address

3195 Middlecoff Lane
Florence, SC
29506

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