Max's Mission, Naperville, IL (2026)

10/01/2026

PRESENCE IS PREVENTION.

Human connection matters.

Being present matters.

Showing up matters.

And sometimes, prevention looks much simpler than we make it.

It looks like sitting beside someone when there are no words.

Sending the text. Making the call. Bringing dinner.

Remembering the difficult date.

Saying the name of the person who died.

Checking in again — not just tomorrow, but next month. Next year. Years from now.

We often say, “Call me if you need anything.”

But here is something I have learned through loss:

We probably won’t call.

When someone is drowning in grief, depression, loneliness or pain, asking for help can feel like one more impossible thing to do.

So don’t wait for the call.

Show up. And keep showing up.

You cannot fix grief. You cannot take away the pain of losing someone you love.

And you don’t need to try.

Sometimes the greatest gift is simply being willing to put on your boots, step into the mud with someone and walk beside them through it.

Let them cry. Let them talk. Let them be quiet. Let them tell the same story for the hundredth time.

Don’t try to pull them out of their pain. Just make sure they don’t have to sit in it alone.

For those grieving a su***de loss, this matters more than people may realize.

Research has found that people bereaved by su***de are two to three times more likely to experience suicidal behavior than the general population.

That is why supporting su***de loss survivors is also su***de prevention.

After a su***de, there is often an incredible outpouring of love.

And then life moves forward.

Except for the people grieving.

Their loss doesn’t end after the funeral, the first birthday, holiday or anniversary.

Grief continues for months. For years. For a lifetime.

That is why presence matters long after everyone else has gone home.

Invite them even if they keep saying no.

Text even if they don’t respond.

Remember their person.

Say their name.

Keep showing up.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer another human being is simply:

I’m here. And I’m still here.

Presence is prevention.

Hope. Healing. Connection.

Max’s Mission

09/30/2026

My sons name is Max.

And he was a light so bright that even now, more than four years after losing him, it still feels impossible that he can really be gone.

Max was smart. Driven. Funny. He had hopes for his future, plans for the next day ahead of him, and so many friends and family that loved him so deeply.

And still, we lost him to su***de.

Today, we say his name.

Max Wijangco

------------------------------

• Max Wijangco, 15 years old

• Naperville, Illinois

• What do you want the world to know about your son?

• Max was vibrant, smart, funny and always ten steps ahead of everyone.

Max did not know a stranger. During Covid, when Max was just 13, I took him to a skate park in Bolingbrook, about 30 minutes from our house. As he got out of my car, a man in his 30s walking toward the park yelled "Hey Max!" He was genuinely excited to see him.

I remember sitting in my van thinking how incredible it was that Max connected with everyone. His friends crossed ages, races and backgrounds. People were drawn to him.

That was Max wherever he went.

On a family trip to Nashville, Max connected with two friends he had met the year before at Woodward Skate
Camp in Pennsylvania.

He met up with one at a skatepark in Knoxville and spent another day skating with a different Woodward friend at an indoor skatepark in Nashville.

Max was magnetic. He was truly a light to those who knew him.

• What were your son's hobbies?

• Skateboarding, snowboarding, fingerboarding, playing with his dog Zoey, reselling shoes and clothes.

• What do you do to honor your son?

• We created Max's Mission to support people after su***de loss so no one has to walk though this kind of grief alone.

We have created murals near the skatepark where Max learned to skate and host skatepark and snowboarding events that bring kids together through something Max loved so much.

But one of the most important ways we honor Max is simply continuing to say his name and sharing the stories of how he lived.

We refuse to let the way Max died define the life he lived.

Max was so much more than his death.

• What is one word to describe your son?

• Magnetic

09/28/2026

Sixteen days before Jamie Boone died, he graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

At just 21, he had so much ahead of him. He was preparing to begin an audit internship and planned to earn his master’s degree in Accountancy.

But Jamie was so much more than his accomplishments.

He was funny, kind, smart and driven, with a quick wit, a big heart and a bright smile. He loved his friends, traveling, camping, making people laugh and pulling practical jokes.

His mom, Anita, hopes Jamie’s story reminds people to look beyond a person’s final moments and remember the whole life—the relationships, laughter, accomplishments, dreams and impact they had on others.

Jamie’s life was so much bigger than the way it ended. Saying his name keeps all of that alive.

Today, we say his name.

Jamie Boone

---------------

• Jamie Boone, 21 years old

• Monticello, Illinois

• What do you want the world to know about your son?

• I want the world to know Jamie for who he was and the life he lived. He was funny, kind, smart, driven, and deeply loved. He had a quick wit, a big heart, a voice and laugh I would give anything to hear again, and a bright smile that could light up a room.

I want Jamie remembered for the friendships he made, the memories he created, the goals he worked toward, and the people who loved him.

Jamie’s life mattered. He was here. He was loved. And he deserves to be remembered for the life he lived, not only for how his life ended.

• What were your son's hobbies?

• Jamie loved camping, traveling, spending time with his friends, making people laugh, and pulling practical jokes.

He also enjoyed Photoshop and was active in the University of Illinois Adventure Club.

• What do you do to honor your son?

• We created The Jamie Boone Project as a way to honor his life and help others. We provide mental health education, su***de awareness and prevention, lived-experience presentations, and J.A.M.I.E. Bags filled with mental health tools and resources.

Most of all, we keep saying Jamie’s name, and reminding people that his life was so much bigger than the way it ended.

• What is one word to describe your son?

• Unforgettable

09/26/2026

Please join me for Erin Blechman's upcoming webinar: Understanding Su***de Loss — A Panel Discussion @ 6pm CST Monday September 28th.

How do you navigate the unimaginable loss of a loved one to su***de? Where do you turn for support? And how do you begin to move forward while carrying a loss that can feel so complicated and overwhelming?

Please join .blechman and me, along with Bob Riley and Resha Kearney for an important and compassionate conversation about the complexities and challenges of su***de loss.

Each of the panelists has lost a loved one to su***de, and each has turned their experience into action — offering support, raising awareness, or advocating for change in su***de prevention and postvention.

💬 We’ll address some of the most commonly asked questions about navigating su***de loss and take questions from participants.

Whether you are personally impacted by su***de loss, support someone who is, or simply want to better understand this often misunderstood experience, you won’t want to miss this important conversation.

📅 Monday, September 28
⏰ 7:00–8:30 PM ET
💻 Via Zoom
🎟️ FREE — Registration is required

👉 Copy the link to register.
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/iY_8GPjDRUOuiUEbk-vldQ

I hope you’ll join us for this meaningful conversation.

09/24/2026

For nearly five years, Jena has carried the story of her partner Michael without speaking publicly about his death.

This year, she decided to end that silence.

And today, she is trusting us with part of his story.

She wants us to remember Michael for something far greater than the way he died — as a whole person who is loved, who still matters, and whose life is worth remembering.

Today, we say his name.

Michael Salamon

--------------

• Michael Salamon, 51 years old

• Denver, Colorado

• What do you want the world to know about your partner?

• I want people to remember that Michael was more than the way he died.

He was not a statistic, a tragedy, a warning sign, or a headline.

He was a whole person.

He was loved. He mattered. His life had meaning before alcohol addiction and su***de became part of his story, and his name deserves to be spoken with tenderness, not shame.

I want people to remember the love, not only the loss.

When I say Michael’s name, I am honoring the person he was, not just the pain that took him. I am choosing to remember his humanity. I am choosing to speak openly about su***de, alcohol addiction, and grief so that others feel less alone.

Michael mattered.
Michael was loved.
Michael's story is not only about how he died.
His life is worth remembering.

• What were your partner's hobbies?

• Michael loved playing backgammon and cribbage. He hated losing, so when my lucky streak with the dice got hot, he would suddenly want us to switch to cribbage.

We skied together too. In fact, Michael came out of ski retirement when we met, and we had a blast.

We loved making blueberry pies together. We loved finding snacks at the grocery store. Michael was the best snack finder.

And he loved to tease me in a kind way. Honestly, I think teasing me was one of his hobbies.

• What do you do to honor your partner?

• I celebrate with our lobster on birthday tradition; On his sunset date, I light a candle.

On any occasion, I talk to him.

I've never spoken publicly about his death and this year I decided I would end my silence.

• What is one word to describe your partner?

• Love

09/22/2026

These are just a few of the many lives we have had the privilege of honoring through our Say Their Name project. ❤️

And there are so many more names that deserve to be said.

If you have lost someone to su***de, we would be honored to share their story.

There should be no shame in saying that someone we love died by su***de.

There should be no stigma surrounding their death.

Su***de is part of the story for far too many families, and we believe that talking about it openly helps normalize conversations about su***de and su***de loss.

But most importantly, the way someone died should never overshadow the way they lived.

Throughout September, Max’s Mission is honoring one life lost to su***de every day.

We are sharing their names.

Their faces.

Their personalities.

Their passions.

The people and things they loved.

The memories their families never want the world to forget.

Because they were so much more than the way they died.

We are still accepting submissions, and we want to hear about your person.

Tell us who they were.

Tell us what they loved.

Tell us what made them them.

Tell us the story you want the world to remember.

Submit your loved one through the link in our bio or at:

maxs-mission.org/saytheirname

We will continue to Say Their Names — without shame, without stigma, and with so much love.

Because their lives still matter.

Their stories still matter.

And their names deserve to be said. ❤️

***deAwarenessMonth ***deLoss ***deLossSurvivor

09/21/2026

Christopher Wasson’s sister, Susan, chose one word to describe her brother: Smart.

But reading the words left behind on the tribute wall of his obituary by the people who knew Christopher, you begin to see just how much was contained within that one life.

Friends and coworkers remembered Chris as warm, charming, funny, kind and welcoming. One person wrote that he was the kind of person who was “always there to listen, give a hug, tell a joke.” Another remembered his bright smile, kindness and wonderful humor.

Christopher was 43 when he died in 2015. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the messages left by his colleagues make it clear that he wasn’t simply someone they worked alongside — he was someone they genuinely loved.

And at the center of Christopher’s life was his family.

His sister Susan says he especially loved his nieces and nephews. He also had an appreciation for art and fashion — interests that seem particularly fitting for someone who spent part of his life surrounded by art.

Ten years later, Susan continues to honor her brother by participating in the AFSP Philadelphia Walk.

Today, we have the privilege of learning a little more about the person behind the name.

Christopher was a brother, an uncle, a son, a friend and a colleague whose kindness and humor are still remembered by the people whose lives crossed his.

Today, we say his name.

Christopher Wasson

--------------------------------------

• Christopher Wasson, 43 years old

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• What do you want the world to know about your brother?

• He loved his family, especially his nieces and nephews

• What were your brother's hobbies?

• He loved art and fashion.

• What do you do to honor your brother?

• AFSP Philadelphia walk

• What is one word to describe your brother?

• Smart

If you have lost someone to su***de and would like to honor their life through our Say Their Name project, click on the link below to participate.

https://maxs-mission.org/saytheirname

09/20/2026

Today marks one year since Greg Gallo died.

And on this day, his sister Gayle wants us to remember the person he was and the way he lived.

If Gayle had to describe her brother in one word, it would be selfless.

“He would do anything for anybody.”

And when you read about the way Greg lived his life, you understand exactly what she means.

Greg loved BIG.

He showed up — for his children, his sisters, his nieces and nephews, and his great-nieces and nephews. He attended their games and events, traveled with his family, gave the best advice, and was always ready to capture everyone together in a group selfie.

But there was also a wonderfully fun side to Greg.

He was the life of the party, loved concerts, could hold his own in music trivia, and somehow had a knack for running into celebrities during his travels. Those encounters inevitably became stories Greg would tell later — just one more adventure added to a life filled with them.

His obituary says Greg “never met a stranger,” and I love that description of him.

Because Greg seems to have been someone who didn’t just move through life.

He connected with people along the way.

One year later, his family is still talking about Greg, sharing their memories, and carrying his big love with them.

Today we say his name.

Greg Gallo.

-------------------------------

• Greg Gallo, 52 years

•Morris, Illinois

• What do you want the world to know about your brother?

• Greg gave the best advice.

He loved BIG and attended every event for his great nieces and nephews.

• What were your brother's hobbies?

• Go-cart racing with his son, watching football and NASCAR, the CUBS, traveling with his family, watching every sporting event his family members were in.

• What do you do to honor your brother?

• We talk about Greg and share our memories.

We went to a Cubs game as a family and wore shirts with his picture on them.

• What is one word to describe your brother?

• He would do anything for anybody!

If you have lost someone to su***de and would like to honor their life through our Say Their Name project, click on the link below to participate.

https://maxs-mission.org/saytheirname

09/19/2026

For the second time this month, a Say Their Name submission has come to us from Australia.

It means so much to see families across the world finding Max’s Mission and trusting us with the stories of the people they love.

Today we meet Timothy Owen, through the eyes of his mom.

-----------------------------

• Timothy Owen, 17 years old

• Sydney, Australia

• What do you want the world to know about your son?

• Timmy was the kindest, loveliest person. He loved with all his heart and was loved in return by everyone who knew him.

• What were your son's hobbies?

• Timmy had an adventurous spirit and loved to explore both the city and the natural beauty of wilderness areas, always with his camera in hand. He was a talented photographer and filmmaker.

He adored his friends who he called his “Adventure Squad”.

He was passionate about school and learning.

He loved coffee!

And his little cat Peggy.

• What do you do to honor your son?

• Timmy wrote a Bucket List with a wonderful list of adventures to tick off, from tattoos to travel, so I’m working my way through the list and carrying his heart.

One Mother’s Day Timmy gave me an ornamental plate with the words "Magic Every day“ on it so I’ve made that my mantra - whether it’s a beautiful sunset or his favourite flower, Australian native Flannel Flowers or a smile from a stranger, this gives me strength and I find little signs of Timmy’s love in those moments.

Cafe 2823, a cafe in a tiny village in rural New South Wales has a Cups of Kindness initiative in Timmy’s honour, where free coffees are shared as random acts of kindness. More than 10,000 coffees have been given away over the 6 years since Timmy died.

Because of Covid we could not celebrate his life with family and friends so in 2023 I had an exhibition of Timmy’s photographs and the outpouring of love for him was incredible- everyone shared the beauty of his life through his eyes.

• What is one word to describe your son?

• Kind

If you have lost someone to su***de and would like to honor their life through our Say Their Name project, click on the link below to participate.

https://maxs-mission.org/saytheirname

***deLossSurvivor

09/19/2026

Rob’s wife Tina describes him as the most caring and genuine person she has ever known.

He was incredibly handsome — “stunning, in fact,” she says — yet underneath that, Rob struggled with confidence and never seemed to understand just how deeply he was loved by the people around him.

He devoted so much of himself to providing and being a husband. He would do anything for anyone.

And he was also, wonderfully, a big kid at heart.

His wife calls him a “modern-day Peter Pan” — someone who simply refused to grow up.

Today, his wife is still finding her own way of honoring Rob.

Because Rob was a twin, she spends time with his twin sister. Sometimes they holiday together. Sometimes they simply spend the day together.

And together, they raise a glass to Rob.

A husband. A twin. A man who gave so much of himself to others, without ever fully realizing how much he meant to them.

You were loved. You are loved. And you are remembered.

Today, we say his name.

Rob Staines

---------------------------------

• Rob Staines, 45 years old

• Droitwich, Worcestershire, England

• What do you want the world to know about your husband?

• Rob was the most caring, genuine person I have ever met.

Whilst he was extremely attractive...stunning in fact, he lacked confidence in all areas of his life.

His life was solely to provide and be a husband. He didn't know how to be anything else.

He would do anything for anyone. He just never knew how much he was loved by everyone!

Rob was very much a modern day Peter Pan .... a big kid that refused to grow up

• What were your husband's hobbies?:

• He loved watching snooker, trying out DIY and the absolutely loved technics lego

• What do you do to honor your husband?

• I haven't yet found a way to honour him.

As he was a twin I spend time with his sister. We holiday or just spend the day together and raise a glass!

• What is one word to describe your loved one?

• Loving

If you have lost someone to su***de and would like to honor their life through our Say Their Name project, click on the link below to participate.

https://maxs-mission.org/saytheirname

***deLossSurvivor

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