Jana Marie Foundation

Jana Marie Foundation Opening minds. Saving lives. Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Nonprofit

Founded 2012 Registration does not imply endorsement.

The official registration and financial information of Jana Marie Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999.

Just announced: Summer J.A.M. Session ☀Friends with kids going into grades 2-5, if you're looking for a way to add some ...
06/19/2026

Just announced: Summer J.A.M. Session ☀

Friends with kids going into grades 2-5, if you're looking for a way to add some free, summer fun to your schedule, we have great news. We're partnering with St. Mark Lutheran Church Snydertown (Howard, PA) for a J.A.M. Session on Friday, July 31.

The 9 am-1 pm youth workshop will be packed with games, crafts, and other engaging activities that encourage connections and self-care. To register and learn more, follow the link in the flyer!

Today, we pause to reflect on the origin of Jana Marie Foundation.Fifteen years ago, my older sister, Jana, died by su**...
06/18/2026

Today, we pause to reflect on the origin of Jana Marie Foundation.

Fifteen years ago, my older sister, Jana, died by su***de. She was beautiful, artistic, compassionate, and endlessly creative. She found joy in helping others and exploring the world with curiosity, wonder, and an open heart.

Jana journaled every day. Within those pages, she shared not only her struggles, but also her hopes and dreams. She envisioned a world where young people had opportunities for creative expression and safe spaces where they could feel seen, heard, valued, and connected.

Today, Jana's vision continues to guide everything we do. At Jana Marie Foundation, we harness the power of creative expression and dialogue to spark conversations, build connections, and promote mental well-being among young people and their communities.

Each and every day, take time to reach out to a friend, hug a loved one, take a walk outside, create something, or simply let someone know they're not alone. Small acts of connection can make a profound difference.

Thank you for helping us carry Jana's light forward.

- Marisa
💜💚

Yesterday, Marisa joined the Centre County Board of Commissioners meeting for the Interfaith Gun Coalition's Safe and Se...
06/17/2026

Yesterday, Marisa joined the Centre County Board of Commissioners meeting for the Interfaith Gun Coalition's Safe and Secure Firearm Storage proclamation.

Safe storage of fi****ms is a vital component of any su***de prevention plan. If you're interested in learning more about best practices and how to have a collaborative conversation about safe storage options, consider registering for one of our free CALM training sessions.

We host free, virtual CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) Conversations courses on a monthly basis and would love to have you join us to learn more about why means matter and the creative ways to ensure someone at risk stays safe.

CALM Conversations Training
Monday, June 29
10-11:30 am
Virtual (Register for link)
janamariefoundation.org/take-a-course

It's officially camp season! Today, we welcomed nearly 40 campers to our free Explore Camp at Gray's Woods Elementary Sc...
06/16/2026

It's officially camp season! Today, we welcomed nearly 40 campers to our free Explore Camp at Gray's Woods Elementary School. Campers started the morning by placing their phones in the phone holder and then embraced a screen-free day full of crafting, chatting, team building, nature exploration, and mindfulness. (We are so proud of them!)

Here are just a few snapshots of the day. More photos to come!

On Friday, we officially launched our new Youth Advisory Board! We plan to use feedback from local middle and high schoo...
06/15/2026

On Friday, we officially launched our new Youth Advisory Board! We plan to use feedback from local middle and high schoolers to make sure that our offerings align with the needs and interests of the kids and families we serve.

💜Thank you to our youth board members for dedicating time to support the mental wellbeing of their peers and the larger community!

💚Thank you to Scholar Hotels for jumping in as our Youth Voice Sponsor, ensuring that young people have the opportunity to shape programs and provide feedback about the dozens of different events, in-school partnerships, and small groups that we run throughout the year.

If you sent us an email yesterday (6/14) and got an autoreply stating that our staff emails no longer existed, don't wor...
06/15/2026

If you sent us an email yesterday (6/14) and got an autoreply stating that our staff emails no longer existed, don't worry! We're still here.

Please resend those emails, as we did not receive them. Thank you for your patience!

“I don’t think there’s any adult that I know that could not have benefited from what the Jana Marie Foundation does when...
06/12/2026

“I don’t think there’s any adult that I know that could not have benefited from what the Jana Marie Foundation does when they were coming up through the system.”

Read more about Marc Warren's incredible story as he prepares for his Ride for Hope on July 14! Thank you to Lloyd Rogers at the Centre County Gazette for sitting down with Marc to learn more about the motivation behind his incredible 150-mile cycling fundraiser for Jana Marie Foundation.

Link in comments!

You asked, we listened. The Hobby Horse Derby is back for the third year in a row!Join us on Friday, August 7, from 5-8 ...
06/11/2026

You asked, we listened. The Hobby Horse Derby is back for the third year in a row!

Join us on Friday, August 7, from 5-8 pm at the State College Alliance Church for an evening full of laughter, friendly competition, and unforgettable fun as participants race, jump, and show off their hobby horse skills.

Whether you're a seasoned hobby horse rider or trying it for the very first time, this event is for you! Expect exciting races, obstacle courses, prizes, and plenty of smiles along the way.

Dust off your hobby horse (or make your own!), practice your best gallop, and get ready for one of our favorite new traditions.

Register using the URL or QR code on the flyer. We can't wait to see you at the starting line!

Over the past few weeks, our team has had the honor of leading Mental Health First Aid USA courses for dozens of individ...
06/10/2026

Over the past few weeks, our team has had the honor of leading Mental Health First Aid USA courses for dozens of individuals across the state. Marisa and Peter traveled to Pittsburgh to lead camp staff at the Charlie Batch Center through Youth Mental Health First Aid, and today, Hannah, Peter, and Jenn led the same training for Discovery Space/The Rivet staff.

We love hearing about the different ways Mental Health First Aiders will be applying the content in their larger communities and bringing hope to those in need!

Update: THANK YOU so much to everyone who has reached out to learn more about volunteering their time to create worry wo...
06/09/2026

Update: THANK YOU so much to everyone who has reached out to learn more about volunteering their time to create worry worms. Our hearts are full! Some answers to FAQ's below:
- Worry worms can be donated without eyes, and our team will affix them in-house
- Yarn for worry worms can be picked up at our office in State College; please reach out to Hannah ([email protected]) to schedule a pickup time
- Worry worms can be mailed to or dropped off at our office (432 Rolling Ridge Drive, Suite 3, State College, PA 16801); please reach out to Hannah to schedule a drop-off time or leave them in our Tranquility Station (little free library) by the front door

🧶 Calling All Crocheters! 🧶

Help us spread a little comfort, encouragement, and joy throughout our community.

Jana Marie Foundation is looking for volunteers to crochet Worry Worms that we can share at our youth programs and community events. These small handmade creations may fit in the palm of a hand, but they often make a big impact. Each little worm offers a reminder that someone cares and that support is within reach.

Whether you're an experienced crocheter or simply enjoy creating with a purpose, we'd love your help!

Interested in contributing Worry Worms? Scroll through the images to learn more. We use Hooked by Robin's tutorial on YouTube, and if you need yarn or googly eyes, we can provide supplies! Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference. 🐛✨

Address

432 Rolling Ridge Drive, Suite 3
State College, PA
16801

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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