Fairfield Family Launches Foundation In Honor Of Late Son

FAIRFIELD, CT — The family of the late Kevin Kuczo, who died in February 2021 at the age of 17, has created a foundation in his honor to help raise awareness and identify and help at-risk youth who are dealing with mental illness.

Kevin's Afterglow, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is committed to empowering youth, educators and parents to recognize when young people are in pain and encourage them to seek professional help, according to the Kuczo family.

Kuczo was a junior at Fairfield Warde High School in Fairfield when he died. He was battling depression at the time of his death, and the organization also aims to educate young people about kindness, empathy and the ability to listen to others. It also hopes to help people address the pediatric mental health crisis, and to increase dialogue on the topic.

"What happened to Kevin was a tragedy," said his parents, Jim and Kristen Kuczo, in a statement at a vigil following Kevin's passing. "No parent should ever have to go through this. The only bigger tragedy would be if this happened again."

From that day forward, the Kuczo family have committed themselves to creating a movement grounded in kindness, love and empathy, and to help those in need. At their son's funeral days later, the movement received a name — inspired by the eulogy from the Rev. Dr. Alida Ward, co-pastor of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church. She used the word "afterglow" to characterize Kevin’s positive and lasting legacy.

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of suicide for those ages 10 to 24 increased nearly 60 percent between 2007 and 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reported that suicide was the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-34 in 2018.

Kevin's Afterglow will hold its inaugural golf tournament on June 13 at the H. Smith Richardson Golf Course in Fairfield. The funds raised will help support programs and educational engagements to raise awareness about the mental health crisis facing young people today.

From the Kevin's Afterglow announcement:

"The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our young people with increasing rates of anxiety and depression, and it is our commitment to help other parents, teachers and students to know that they aren’t alone through outreach and teaching empathy," said Jim and Kristen. "Kevin's incredible spirit and life will continue to equip students, parents, coaches, teachers and the community with the tools and resources to help identify and assist youth at risk and dealing with mental health issues."

In the months that followed, the Kuczos continued to speak at middle school and high school sporting events, as well as to the local media. Shaped by Kevin's love and the compassion he always showed to others, Jim and Kristen share their message of kindness and compassion, while raising awareness for the vital issue of mental health.

Kevin’s Afterglow is committed to helping students and families, spanning age groups to understand mental health including:

• Elementary School: To help teach children empathy at an early age, Buddy Benches will be installed on school grounds to reinforce, on a daily basis, the importance of being compassionate and aware of other people’s feelings.
• Middle School: Developing an understanding of mental health is critical to students' social-emotional development and overall wellness. Kevin’s Afterglow will ensure that robust mental health awareness is taught in the middle schools.
• High School: Kevin’s Afterglow will continue with speaking engagements and community conversations that put a human face on mental illness and confront the myths that reinforce the silence.
• Post-Graduate: Academic scholarships will be awarded to students who are interested in becoming a pediatric therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 1-800-273-8255.