 SEPTEMBER 3 • 2020 | 11

GARRETT continued from page 8

Go24forGarrett’
sSpace: 
A Virtual Fundraiser for 
Suicide Prevention, to 
help raise money for our 
residential center. The 
event will feature free 
wellness and fitness class-
es; many speakers, such 
as Detroit’
s own former 
sports broadcaster Eli 
Zaret and Congresswoman 
Debbie Dingell; and gift-
ed performers including 
Broadway stars Robert 
Ariza (from the Chicago 
cast of Hamilton) and Daniel 
Reichard (who performed 
in the Broadway production 
of Jersey Boys). There will 
also be a brief appearance 
from Benj Pasek, co-writer 
of Dear Evan Hansen and 
songwriter for La La Land, 
and Grammy-nominated 
artist Mayer Hawthorne. 
Additionally, the live-
stream will include several 
young adults who will be 
sharing their own struggles 
with mental health and 
how they overcame them. 
As a part of the event, we 
will also be holding an auc-
tion with many gift cards 
and services donated from 
Detroit and Ann Arbor 
businesses and community 
members.
Every anniversary of 

Garrett’
s death is exceed-
ingly difficult for his 
beloved family members 
and friends. With this year 
comes a particular chal-
lenge for me. On Sept. 7, 
the anniversary of Garrett’
s 
death, I will be 23 — the 
same age my brother was 
when he decided to end his 
life. But on this anniversary, 
I feel especially grateful to 
be surrounded by members 
of the community who are 
rallying around us during 
these isolating times to 
raise money for a crucial 
cause: the mental health of 
our young adults. 
While my family and 
Garrett’
s friends will always 
wonder what else we might 
have been able to do for 
Garrett, we know now what 
we can do for others. It is 
our hope that in creating 
Garrett’
s Space, many other 
special and talented young 
adults like my brother will 
no longer have to struggle 
alone. 

Madeline Halpert is a journal-
ist and JN contributor based 
in Ann Arbor. The 24-hour 
“Go24f 
orGarrett’
sSpace” will 
begin on Sept. 4 at noon, and the 
link to the event will be available 
on Garrett’
s Space’
s website, 
garrettsspace.org, under the 
events page.

