Ritz Fest’s sponsored May the 4th be with YOU for Mental Health

NEWBERRY — As you may know, Ritz Fest is South Carolina’s ONLY annual suicide prevention benefit concert held the first Saturday in February. We raise money for the Jason Foundation, Inc, a non-profit based on Tennessee that provides training and resources to fight a silent epidemic, youth suicide. They offer one option for South Carolina middle and high school teachers to receive professional learning on suicide awareness to meet certification requirements To date we have raised over $11,000 for them through two events. This past February saw our second-annual event exceeding expectations which has caused us to grow. Ritz Fest has been adopted by the Newberry Community Players and now falls under their 501c3.

• According to the CDC’s WISQARS National Data Report from 2019, suicide is the third leading cause of death of 10-24 year olds in South Carolina.

• In the United States, South Carolina ranks 27th in the nation in suicide rates, 18th in suicides in ages 12-19, and 29th in drug-related suicides.

• According to Cams Care, Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in South Carolina.

• Everyday in South Carolina 2 people die of suicide. According to the Jason Foundation, every 2 ½ days, one of these South Carolina suicides is a young person.

• Nikki Haley signed the Jason Flatt Act in 2012, mandating training for South Carolina middle and high school teachers and principals in suicide awareness.

These sobering facts highlight the reason Ritz Fest needs to continue with our success. Ritz Fest ‘24 was our second year. We doubled the number of acts, more than doubled our ticket sales, and once again exceeded our fundraising goal for the Jason Foundation. We also added a silent auction. Due to this growth, combined with the need to spread awareness, we are expanding for Ritz Fest ‘25 with a goal to raise $10,000 for the Jason Foundation by the end of February 2025 through three weekends centered around the first Saturdays in May (Mental Health Awareness Month), September Suicide Prevention Month), and our main event in February. Ritz Fest ‘25 aims to be bigger and better.

• Fundraising goal is $10,000 by the end of February 2025.

• Ritz Fest has once again received $5,000 from the City of Newberry through an accommodations tax program for advertising! ❖ Our events will be a mixture of theater, music, and RF’25 will feature short films

• Tee-shirt sales will resume. All purchases go towards more shirt orders and includes a $10 donation directly to JFI towards this year’s goal. Plans are underway for a tee shirt design contest for Ritz Fest ‘25. Ritz Fest is sponsoring two events – May the 4th be with you for Mental Health (4 May 2024) and September Fest for Suicide Prevention (7 September 2024)!

• Our main event, Ritz Fest Eve (31 Jan 2025) and Ritz Fest (1 February 2025).

Details will come on our September and February events, but May the 4th is rapidly approaching!

• WHO: Ritz Fest and sponsors

• WHAT: May the 4th be with you for Mental Health

• WHEN: Saturday, 4 May 2024; 6:30PM -11:00 PM

• WHERE: Beaufort Street, Chapin, SC (in front of the Tipsy Toad)

• WHY: We are trying to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and suicide awareness AND raise $1,000 towards our $10K goal for the Jason Foundation.

• HOW: Providing live music and convenience to food and drink. We will be requesting donations all night.

• Community awareness walk 9:00 a.m. in downtown Newberry.