OUR VISION
At Action & Awareness for Suicide Prevention (AASP THEY MATTER), we envision a world where no one feels invisible in their pain, where hope is louder than stigma, and where every person knows they matter -regardless of what they’ve endured.
We dream of communities where support is holistic, prevention is proactive, and healing is accessible -especially for those whose suffering is often misunderstood, dismissed, or ignored.
Our vision is a world that sees the whole person - not just their diagnosis, not just their story - but their worth.
A world where people don’t have to break to be believed.
A world where compassion replaces judgment, and connection saves lives.
Together, we will build it—one act of awareness, one voice of action, one life at a time.
How AASP THEY MATTER is different?
We are not detached from the struggles we address - we have lived them.
We understand isolation, crisis, loss, and the pain of feeling unseen or unheard. We also recognize that every individual is different, and what helps one person may overwhelm or harm another - including the communities who battle environmental illness, chemical sensitivities, and neurotoxic effects.
We see you.
Because we have walked these roads ourselves, we show up with compassion, action, and an unwavering belief that every life still holds value.
We exist to reach those who feel forgotten, to remind them that hope still exists, and to make sure they know - they matter.
What Action & Awareness for Suicide Prevention (AASP THEY MATTER) Does
Action & Awareness for Suicide Prevention is a Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reaching the unseen, the unheard, and the individuals who feel forgotten. Everything we do is centered on one message: You matter, your life has purpose, and hope is still possible.
Our programs are action-based, compassion-driven, and designed to reach people where they are — online, by mail, in their communities, and behind closed doors.
OUR PROGRAMS & PROJECTS
THE HOPE OUTPOST FOR MEN
A strength-building initiative offering:
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A guided men’s workbook
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A private, men-only digital outpost
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The Compass Initiative / Marble Initiative (mailed tools of direction and grounding)
This project gives men a place to regroup, gain clarity, and rebuild without pressure or judgment.
THE HOPE STOCKING
Community members anonymously nominate individuals in need of encouragement.
AASP THEY MATTER fills each stocking with uplifting items — and, when funding allows, every nominee receives one.
A small act of hope with a big impact.
East Tennessee Lights of Hope: Gather in the Glow
A residential drive-thru Christmas light show held from November 15th through January 1st.
This event brings hope, unity, and joy to our local community and reminds families that light still exists even in difficult seasons.
Winter Letters of Hope Program
Anonymous volunteers across the USA write weekly hope letters to individuals facing isolation, depression, anxiety, chronic illness, and life hardships.
Runs December 1 – February 1.
Paired with:
The Hope Nest
A private space for all Hope Writers and Hope Receivers, offering weekly writing prompts and shared encouragement.
Pumpkin of Hope Program
This program is designed to reach those who feel forgotten, offering comfort, community, and the reminder that hope still travels — even from one stranger to another.
Hope Boxes
Small teal boxes filled with comfort, encouragement, and resources — mailed to individuals battling depression, isolation, or emotional overwhelm.
A simple box that reminds someone they are not alone.
The Hope Key
A keychain with a small skeleton key and a suicide prevention ribbon — representing new beginnings.
A reminder that the person holding it still has doors to open, moments to live, and a future worth unlocking.
Growing Smiles Community Outreach
Participants plant sunflower seeds to spread joy and brighten their neighborhoods.
They can also sponsor an individual from our Survivors Tree, letting someone know, “You matter to me.”
I MATTER Alert Cards
Crisis-ready cards containing vital personal information to support individuals during emergencies or mental health crises.
AASP #theymatter Rocks
A nationwide rock-painting initiative encouraging people to leave inspirational messages on rocks for strangers to find — creating small moments of connection, joy, and hope.
AASP Workbooks
Created to support healing, identity, clarity, and self-restoration:
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THE HOPE OUTPOST FOR MEN
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MAKING YOUR MIND MATTER
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FINDING YOUR PURPOSE
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FINDING YOUR WAY BACK (for suicide attempt survivors)
Anti-Bullying Campaign
For both online gaming communities and classroom environments.
Teachers can request anti-bullying cards for their students and receive a certificate of participation to display in their classroom.
Action & Awareness Sheets
Trigger-information sheets that help individuals reflect on factors that may be affecting their mental health.
For educational purposes only, not medical advice.
Designed to promote self-awareness, grounding, and emotional clarity.
Dear Me Challenge & Kindness Challenge
Self-help challenges that guide participants to:
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Write letters to their past or future selves
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Practice anonymous acts of kindness
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Engage in reflective self-compassion
These challenges create internal growth, emotional healing, and outward hope.
Hope Drop (Gaming Kindness Initiative)
A project dedicated to spreading hope in online gaming spaces.
Players are encouraged to demonstrate kindness, encouragement, and empathy during gameplay — creating ripple effects in a digital world often filled with negativity.
FUTURE GOALS
THEY MATTER Boxes
Community-placed boxes filled with suicide prevention resources, care items, and hope tools — accessible to anyone in need, anytime.
Camp Care A Lot
A long-term humanitarian vision: a safe campground for families or individuals living in their cars with nowhere to go.
More than a place to rest — it is a place to:
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Regain health
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Recover stability
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Rebuild life
Estimated cost exceeds one million dollars.
Full business plan available under program tab.
"In a world that so easily forgets the hurting, we choose to see them, fight for them, and whisper through the darkness: you still matter."
