06/08/2024
Thank you Sonoma County Gazette for the wonderful article about Sage Casey Foundation in this month’s paper! We appreciate you! Check it out! 🌈❤️ (And be sure to come see us at our 2024 Sage Casey Foundation RAINBOW PARTY at Crooked Goat Sebastopol! On 6/22!!)
————-
The Sage Casey Foundation empowers Sonoma County youth to live their truth
By Owen Ruderman
The Sage Casey Foundation is a nonprofit that was founded in memory of Sage Casey Schmitt, a 14-year-old who lost their life to su***de in 2017. According to Rebekah Schmitt, Sage’s mother, she started the nonprofit because she wanted Sage’s legacy to be a positive one.
“Sage was such a positive bright light to everybody that knew them, and the way they died was so tragic, and it impacted so many people,” said Schmitt in a phone interview in May. “We really didn’t want the way that they died to be the last impact that they had in the community ... we wanted to find a way to turn that around and let their legacy be something more positive.”
When Schmitt first started the Sage Casey Foundation, she didn’t have a clear idea of where they were going with it, or if they were even making a difference. She just knew that she wanted tell Sage’s story in hopes that it might help someone else.
The Sage Casey Foundation began with music scholarships to the Cazadero Music Camp (which are still going strong today). Every summer, the foundation sponsors two students from Hillcrest Middle School — where Sage went to school — with a full week-long trip to the Cazadero Performing Arts Camp.
Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the foundation started sending out Rainbow Bags — goodie bags full of fidget toys, sunglasses and other fun items that feature positive affirmations like, “Keep going,” “No storm lasts forever” and “You cannot be replaced.” The Rainbow Bags aim to reduce feelings of isolation in Sonoma County youth while also supplying them with useful information and resources.
The Sage Casey Foundation now also puts on a variety of events throughout the year that aim to educate the community on mental health and su***de prevention. On June 22, the foundation is hosting their annual Rainbow Party at Crooked Goat Brewing in Sebastopol. The party, which runs from noon to 10 p.m., will have rock and face painting, bracelet making, food trucks, live music and so much more. Admission for this party, along with everything else the foundation does, is completely free. Schmitt says that the main reason why they are able to offer their services for no cost is because of the generous residents of Sonoma County.
“We’ve been very very lucky with the support we have from our community,” said Schmitt. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to do everything we do using volunteer donations and support.”
Last year, Schmitt and the Sage Casey Foundation were recognized by more than the local community. The Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights and the 4Cs of Sonoma County recognized Schmitt and the foundation as Human Rights Champions and Champions for Children, respectively.
While there are only four board members at the foundation, and the core staff that plans and pulls off all the events is made up of around a dozen people, Schmitt says that they have “a big group of volunteers and hundreds of people that donate and support the organization.”
However, they’re always looking for more help. In fact, they need volunteers to help out at their aforementioned Rainbow Party on June 22. Interested volunteers or organizations that would like to table can email outreach@sagecaseyfoundation. com.
While Sage was pansexual and gender fluid, and the organization is happy to support LGBTQIA+ youth, the resources, parties, bags and information that the Sage Casey Foundation supplies are for all youth, regardless of gender identity. They’ve even occasionally expanded to other at-risk people who aren’t youth, like adults in the veterinary care field.
Schmitt says that the organization prides itself on its flexibility and is constantly taking suggestions and looking for areas where they can help raise awareness about and prevent su***de. She encourages members of the community to reach out and tell them about places where their services could be needed.
While the organization has steadily evolved over the years, Sage’s story is still at the core of the Sage Casey Foundation. Schmitt says that, even though it’s been more than seven years since the passing of her child, people are still reaching out and telling her how much Sage’s death impacted them.
“There is a face on this issue,” said Schmitt. “I hate that it’s my child’s face, but I love that we are making a difference, and it’s because of Sage.”
“To still be hearing that [people I don’t even know are impacted by Sage’s story] makes me feel like we are doing something meaningful.”
Learn more about The Sage Casey Foundation at sagecaseyfoundation.com.
Rebekah Schmitt photo.
The Sage Casey Foundation began making goodie bags during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to break up isolation. Known as Rainbow Bags, they offered useful information and resources for su***de prevention. Rebekah Schmitt photo.
The Sage Casey Foundation spends part of its time at various events throughout Sonoma County educating community members on mental health and su***de prevention. Rebekah Schmitt photo.
