The Jamie Boone Project

05/08/2026

Tonight at the 2026 Monticello High School Senior Honors Night, senior Cassidee Stoffel was awarded the Jamie Boone Memorial Scholarship.

This scholarship was created in memory of our son, Jamie Boone, and recognizes a student who reflects the qualities that meant so much to him—character, perseverance, kindness, and the ability to make a positive impact on others.

Cassidee plans to study health sciences on a pre-physician assistant track at Baylor University and wants to be there for people during difficult moments. She also shared how important it is to be someone others can rely on.

Congratulations, Cassidee. We are honored to recognize you with this scholarship and look forward to all you accomplish in the future.

05/07/2026

Final school drop-off for the 2025–2026 school year. 💚

Johnny wanted to share a quick thank-you message to everyone who helped make this year possible.

We’re grateful for all of the support.

05/06/2026

Tonight at Bement High School’s Honors & Senior Scholarship Presentation Night, senior Will Fuson was awarded the Jamie Boone Memorial Scholarship.

This scholarship was created in memory of our son, Jamie Boone, and recognizes a student who reflects the qualities that meant so much to him—character, perseverance, kindness, and the ability to make a positive impact on others.

Will plans to study business and has a strong desire to help others and make a difference in his community.

Congratulations, Will. We wish you all the best as you begin this next chapter.

05/05/2026

This is a chance to start conversations and provide practical mental health tools right here in our community.💚

⭐️ THIS WEDNESDAY is your first chance out of four to check off your Mental Health Awareness Month Passport square for attending one of the free workshops at KayBee Community Cafe!

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) looks at one’s wellness as a mosaic of eight health dimensions: emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational, and social. We all can attest to that because if one of our dimensions are negatively impacted, there is a high probability that it may affect/infect other domains.

Join us for a brief discussion with Kirby Medical Center's Director of Integrated Behavioral Health, Taylor Ferguson, and Piatt County Mental Health Center’s Executive Director, Tony Kirkman, as they expand upon these health dimensions and practical ways we can utilize skills to positively improve our overall wellness.

💚 This event is a part of the 2026 Piatt County Mental Health Awareness Month Programing

✨ Please RSVP for this event as attendees will have a chance to win some gift cards to some of our great local businesses! RSVP at www.kaybeecafe.com/event-calendar

WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 from 6-7pm
WHERE: KayBee Community Cafe | 102 E. Lafayette St., Monticello, IL 61856
COST: Free!

05/05/2026

Thank you to ISU Kappa Kappa Gamma 💜

Last Thursday evening, these incredible young women packed 400 J.A.M.I.E. Bags for The Jamie Boone Project.

We are so grateful for your time, energy, and willingness to be part of something that supports mental health and helps start conversations.

05/03/2026

Bereaved Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 3, 2026

Tomorrow is for mothers like me—the ones who carry their child not in their arms, but in their heart.

Bereaved Mother’s Day is a day many people don’t know about. But for those of us living with this loss, it matters. It recognizes a kind of motherhood that doesn’t end, even when our child’s life does.

Whether your child was lost during pregnancy, in infancy, childhood, or adulthood—you are still a mother. That love didn’t stop. It just exists in a different way now—quieter, deeper, and often unseen.

To every mom who will be missing her child tomorrow:
You’re not alone.
Your grief is real.
Your love is forever.
And your child’s life still matters.

If you know a bereaved mom, reach out. Say their child’s name. Let her know she’s not forgotten.

I’m Jamie’s mom.
And I always will be.

05/01/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

It’s about bringing attention to mental health—talking about it more openly, understanding it, and taking it seriously.

You’ll see a lot of ideas this month about taking care of yourself—and those things matter. They can be a starting point.

Maybe it’s working in your flower bed.
Maybe it’s going for a walk.
Maybe it’s journaling your thoughts.
Maybe it’s reading a book.
Maybe it’s taking a nap.

But some days, it’s just getting out of bed.
And some days, even that feels like a lot.

Those small things can help you cope and manage life—but mental health is also the hard stuff.

Getting through the day—even when it feels heavy.
Being honest about how you’re really doing.
Paying attention—to yourself and to others.

It’s not about fixing everything.
It’s about showing up, however that looks that day.

It’s all part of it. 💚

P.S. Your worst days don’t define you. 💚

Mental health and crisis resources are available at:
https://thejamiebooneproject.org/resources

04/30/2026

Hi, I’m Johnny Boone, Co-Founder of The Jamie Boone Project.

Here’s a “short” video (about 12 minutes—if you know me, you get it 😊) about who we are, what we do, and how we can all make a difference.

In this video, I also share how to start the conversation and ways to support someone who may be struggling.

The Jamie Boone Project was created in honor of our son Jamie. We focus on providing education, tools, and resources to support mental health and help prevent su***de.

Please help spread the word by sharing this video. The more people we reach, the bigger the impact we can have in raising awareness and supporting mental health.

https://thejamiebooneproject.org

Be intentional. Be available. Be there.

04/28/2026

Mental health matters. 💚

💚 LET’S GREEN OUT! 💚

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we’re hoping you all join us in advocating for the improvement of mental health in our community and throughout the world 🌎

How you can participate:
💚 Wear green every Friday in May to show your support!

🩷 Text someone that you’re thinking about them and that they matter to you.

💚 Deck out your offices and storefronts with the color green for May!

🩷 Keep an eye out on our page and share it with others for some BIG announcements on free mental workshops, resources, and a fun passport scavenger hunt all May long for a chance to win a FREE mental health t-shirt!

🫶🏼 TAG someone below you want to shoutout out for being awesome

04/23/2026

The Illinois Youth Survey 2024 (the most recent data available) highlights the mental health challenges faced by Piatt County youth:

17% of 10th graders and 15% of 12th graders reported seriously considering attempting su***de in the past 12 months.

32% of 8th graders, 36% of 10th graders, and 30% of 12th graders reported feeling so sad or hopeless for two weeks or more in the past 12 months that they stopped doing their usual activities.

(Note: Suicide-related questions are not asked to 8th graders in the survey, so this data reflects only sadness/hopelessness for that group.)

These numbers highlight why mental health awareness and su***de awareness/intervention and prevention are so important in our community.

This year, The Jamie Boone Project is distributing J.A.M.I.E. Bags (Just A Mental Inventory Every Day)—backpacks filled with mental health tools and resources—to 949 students, including 8th graders and graduating seniors across Piatt County, along with students in ALAH (Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond), Sullivan High School, Argenta-Oreana High School, and University High School.

Swipe through to learn more.

For more data, view the full survey: https://iys.cprd.illinois.edu/results/county

Find mental health resources on our website: https://thejamiebooneproject.org/resources