Welcome to our third Sam Chase Fund newsletter. Our intention is to inform you of resources aligned with our mission of helping young adults find their path to thrive,  showcase non-profits raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, make you laugh and maybe cry, celebrate the young friends we help along the way, and so much more. Thank you for being on this journey with us. In this newsletter you will see what we have offered already, and what we have in store for May. Do you have ideas for us? Give us a call, a text, an email, or a DM! You will receive these newsletters on the 27th of each month. 

Sam's Story

   This is difficult information for us to share in our newsletter but we are doing so because it is critically important. We have not talked about this, not because we hold shame around Sams story,  we have just been processing, learning and grieving. As you know, Sam was struggling to find his place in the world and like many of us, made some poor decisions and suffered some bad luck. He didn’t know what direction to go and in that stage of life the uncertainty compounded with quarantine led to overwhelm and depression. As common as depression is it is unfortunately not talked about. He had wonderful outlets to help escape from frustrating realities like exercise, being with the family, working, and friends, but unfortunately recreational drugs was another outlet. On the evening of April 21, 2020, Sam took a drug that was not what it was represented to be. He was poisoned by a massive dose of fentanyl which ended his life and shattered our hearts.

   Sam was suffering and wanted an escape but he did not intend to end his life. It is hard for us to share this because we do not want the manner of his passing to define who he was. Sam was a million other things. A brother, a son, a friend, an athlete, a music lover; a kind, caring soul who loved deeply and smiled brighter than anyone.

   Illicit fentanyl is cheap to manufacture and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is often cut into other drugs or pressed into counterfeit pills that look like prescription medications. Drug overdose deaths were up 30 percent in 2020 to over 100,000 in the U.S. Over 70 percent of those deaths were caused by fentanyl overdose. It is an epidemic and the death toll is rising fastest among 14 to 23 year-olds. Most who succumb were not addicts and thought they were taking something else.

   We don’t want another family to endure the pain that we have so we are sharing this information and our story to increase awareness and enlist others to join the fight against this crisis. May 10, 2022 is the first National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Please join us and a diverse coalition of nonprofit organizations, major corporations, government agencies, and schools to raise awareness about fentanyl in fake pills and street drugs. Below is a link to a partner organization, Song for Charlie, with more information on what you can do to help.

For more stories like Sam's, click below to view impact stories from other loved ones who lost their young adult to fentanyl poisoning. 

Outreach

Where we are in the community!

The Sam Chase Fund has recently partnered with Mount Shasta High School, to offer emotional CPR and support to students during the school year. Team member Ashley can be seen on campus each week, to help students navigate any stressors that students may be experiencing, as well as support in academic endeavors. We look forward to creating more opportunities to work with young adults in our community. 

Events

Happening Now

Sam Chase Fund Scholarship

Deadline: May 15, 2022

 The Sam Chase Fund (SCF) is offering $2,000 scholarships to incoming college freshmen in Siskiyou County, California for the 2022/23 academic year. Applicants must have a 2.0 minimum GPA and submit a compelling 750-word essay about a challenge, hardship, or mistake they have overcome and how that strengthened their commitment to grow and find a fulfilling future. SCF will award scholarships based on applicant’s potential, resilience, and grit, rather than past performance. 

Eligibility Requirements:

·       Siskiyou County, CA resident.

·       2.0 minimum GPA (high school transcript required).

·       Enrolled as a freshman at an accredited university, trade school, or community college.

·       Submission of a 750-word essay.

·       Two letters of recommendation: one from a high school teacher, coach, or administrator; and one letter from a personal reference.

Upcoming

National Fentanyl Awareness Day

May 10, 2022

A Diverse Coalition of Nonprofits, Corporations, Government Agencies and Schools come together to raise awareness about fentanyl in fake pills and street drugs. Song for Charlie is a family run nonprofit charity dedicated to raising awareness about "fentapills". Explore the link below to see their call to action and how you can spread awareness alongside us.

227 Applications are now Open!

Do you have a passion you want to pursue, but aren’t sure how to pursue it? If you are looking for help guiding you through your next step to explore your path, whether its college readiness, life after high school, mental health support, counseling,  or FUN summer trips & adventures, we want to help YOU find your compelling future.👇🏼

Here is an example of just a few of the things we can sponsor!

Adventure, service, leadership: https://www.outwardbound.org. 

Travel, service, leadership, culture: https://www.unitedplanet.org. 

Academic, post-high school readiness, career exploration: https://programs.scholarshope.org/register?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0PWRBhDKARIsAPKHFGhyEJOyOL9FQ6c5AYLdYkW0GrOcVTGIvu62Lck6W8nLtZoGkeU-NW8aAoN-EALw_wcB 

Article of the Month

"Chase"ing knowledge

We are here to provoke your thinking, be creative, innovative, potent, and to help young adults thrive, feel less pressure, and envision their compelling future. We chose this months article because of the rise of fentanyl poisoning that is claiming the lives of teens all over the country.

Please help young adults find their path by supporting the Sam Chase Fund with your tax deductible contribution.

Donations to the Sam Chase Fund are processed and administered by our partner, The Community Foundation of the North State. The Foundation is a 501c (3) non-profit foundation and all donations are tax deductible.

Know someone who can benefit from our resources ? Have questions?

Contact Our Team

TAKE ACTION

Explore the link on how you can join the fight in spreading awareness to the dangers of fentanyl poisoning.