September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.
A 2016 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs study found an average of 20 veterans a day died from suicide.
On the First Coast, there are a range of initiatives to reach out and support veterans.
Rory Diamond serves on the Jacksonville City Council is also the CEO of K9’s for Warriors, the largest provider of service dogs for disabled American veterans. He joined us for a closer look at this subject, as well as a few others.
Garden Club
For the first time in its nearly 100-year history, the Garden Club of Jacksonville has an Executive Director, Denise Reagan.
She plans to execute a bold new vision for the club, which starts with making it more outward-facing, and joined us along with the organization’s President, Bobi McGinnis, to tell us more.
First Coast Heart Walk
The American Heart Association’s First Coast Heart Walk is coming September 21. It’s the largest walk in Jacksonville, and helps raise funds for innovative medical breakthroughs.
Dr. El Sabbagh, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, is the chair of the 2019 First Coast Heart Walk. He joined us along with Tom Van Berkel, CEO of The Main Street America Group.
Heather Schatz can be reached at hschatz@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @heatherschatz.
