Adams County Suicide Prevention Coalition receives $20,000 donation from golf tournament

QUINCY — Representatives from the Max Wombles Memorial Golf Tournament, family members and friends recently presented a check in the amount of $20,314.08 to the Adams County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

This donation is the largest the coalition has received in its history. The presentation took place at Transitions of Western Illinois.

Friends of Max Wombles, a young man who lost his life to suicide in December 2021, came together to be the hosts of a golf tournament in his memory in late September. Approximately 144 golfers participated in the event at Arrowhead Golf Course in Camp Point. 

Barbara Baker Chapin, director of development at Transitions and chair of the coalition, thanked tournament organizer Avery Hoffman and all those who played a part in the tournament for their gift. 

In a press release, Chapin said, “We are so grateful for this very generous donation … it will be used to assist the coalition in increasing awareness of the new 9-8-8 mental health crisis number. This easy to remember number is a resource for those who are having a mental health crisis and/or thinking of suicide as an option to a life problem.  This donation will help us get this number in front of the public via radio and TV ads, as well as help us in wrapping another Quincy Transit Line paratransit bus with the 9-8-8 number.” 

The ACSPC is a coalition composed of representatives from area human service agencies, area schools and community citizens concerned about suicide.  The coalition’s mission is to prevent the tragedy of suicide. One of their initiatives is to be the host of a website, acsuicideprevention.org, where people can find information about suicide prevention and provide a support group for people who lost a loved one to suicide.

The group also provides grief baskets to families who have lost a loved one to suicide. These baskets contain books about grieving after losing of a loved one to suicide. Coalition members also speak to area high school students, area service clubs and other organizations about the work of the coalition and suicide prevention. 

This group meets monthly on the third Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at Transitions. For more information about the coalition or to request a speaker for your group, contact Chapin at 217-223-0413.