I was totally inspired this morning by my Friend Kevin Caruso. Kevin is the Founder and Executive Director for Suicide.Org, a non profit suicide prevention organization.

Kevin and I met 30 years ago while preparing to spend a year touring with Up With People, an international touring group for young adults. Kevin and I were recently reunited after 30 years, at our 30 year Up With People reunion in Tucson, Arizona this summer.

I was immediately attracted to and inspired by Kevin’s warmth, respect for others and positive attitude. We hit it off immediately and have since become close friends.

I received a post from Kevin this morning on Facebook and, while I was on his page, I decided to read his profile. I was so impressed with his message and his dedication to serve and help others that I felt compelled to help get his message out.

Kevin’s mission is to prevent people from committing suicide. His message is bold and inspiring and deserves to be heard by every person in this planet.

The following is Kevin’s message in his “About Me” section on Facebook:

I am the Founder, Executive Director, Editor-in-Chief, Senior Writer, and Forum Administrator of Suicide.org, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
We serve over 2,000,000 a year with our work — and we never rest. There are countless people who are suicidal, and we strive to provide them with the information and resources that they need so they can get immediate help. We also support countless suicide survivors (people who have lost loved ones to suicide), suicide-attempt survivors, and we work diligently to educate the public about suicide.

Statement:

I accept people as they are and take a strong stance against discrimination, whether it is based on race, religion, body weight, looks, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, or anything else! It should be exceedingly obvious to everyone that people are born black or white, gay or straight, man or woman, etc., and so discriminating against people is idiotic. Yet we live in a world filled with discrimination, which can lead to intolerance, hate, bullying, violence, and suicide. So let it be known that the racists, sexists, anti-gay, and anti-lesbian people of the world — and all those who discriminate, judge, and hate — are the most ignorant individuals on the planet.

And I stress this mindset in my nonprofit organization, Suicide.org — thus, Suicide.org accepts people as they are, cares for them, loves them, and fights for them, regardless of their skin color, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion (or lack thereof), tattoos, piercings, body weight, looks, disabilities, disorders, or problems.

I couldn’t help but be moved by his passion and dedication to serve and help others. So, with his permission, I am helping spread the word.

I believe we are either working together or we’re not. We are either loving, respecting and serving each other or we’re not. The more I grow and learn, the more I believe there is no ‘in between’. How can we say we are not racist but discriminate against gays, homosexuals and lesbians? How can we say we are Christians but discriminate against other religions, cultures and beliefs? How can we say we are Humanitarians but judge others who aren’t like us?

We need more role models like Kevin Caruso on this planet.

Thank you for your service Kevin. God Bless you.

Love and Blessings.

Dean

If you or anyone you know is considering suicide, PLEASE visit this site : Suicide.Org and get help immediately! One life is precious to us all!