The Jordan Porco Foundation was founded in 2011 by Ernie Porco and Marisa Giarnella-Porco, after losing their son, Jordan, to suicide when he was a freshman in college.

In their grief, Jordan’s parents learned the unacceptable statistics surrounding mental health and suicide in the young adult population, and decided they needed to turn their grief into action so that other families would never have to experience such a profound loss.

JPF is committed to preventing suicide in the high school, college, and college entry student population. Through awareness, education, and innovative programming, JPF is challenging stigma around mental health and help-seeking, creating open conversations about the prevalence of suicide and mental health issues in the young adult population, and saving lives.

In discussing what would have appealed to their son, Jordan, to seek help, his parents and their friends, sitting around the kitchen table, came up with Fresh Check Day, the signature program of JPF.

The program is day-long, uplifting, festival-style mental health promotion and suicide prevention event for colleges that includes interactive expo booths, peer-to-peer messaging, support of multiple campus departments and groups, free food, art, music, entertainment, games, and exciting prizes and giveaways.

Fresh Check Day aims to create an approachable and hopeful atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health and build a bridge between students and the mental health resources available on campus, in the community, and nationally.

Milestones Together

By Jordan Porco Foundation

Milestones Together

Celebrate and support the milestones we created together ... step by step!