Who we are

Suicide touches all of us — in our own lives, our families, our communities. Its ripple effects reach future generations in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

That’s why The Kim Foundation exists: to save lives.

We’re knowledgeable advocates working to prevent suicide and break its stigma, while supporting those it has touched. Through community partnerships, education, and outreach, we take a multi-tiered, holistic approach, prioritizing both prevention and post-crisis support.

We lead with compassion. We show up in people’s darkest moments and their brightest victories, offering survivors, families, and anyone impacted by suicide a path forward: to live full, intentional, joyful lives.

We work hand-in-hand with local organizations, schools, and government agencies, closing gaps in prevention and moving mental wellness forward for our community.

And we need you. Together, we can build a community without suicide, where mental wellness is simply a way of life, and every generation has the chance to live, heal, and thrive.

The mission of The Kim Foundation is to save lives. Rooted in hope, compassion, and collaboration, we work to prevent suicide and support those impacted, by educating and cultivating a community where mental wellness thrives.

Growing a community without suicide, where mental wellness is a way of life and future generations can live, heal, and thrive.

The Kim Foundation was founded in 2001. Since its inception, our priorities and initiatives have shifted and grown, but our commitment to suicide prevention and promoting mental wellness has always remained at the core of what we do. Our staff continues to grow and evolve based on the needs of the community, and we are committed to remaining relevant, responsive, and accessible well into the future.

The Kim Foundation serves as a lasting memory of Larry Courtnage’s daughter, Kim, who lived with mental illness and died by suicide. After Kim’s death, Larry vowed to continue building awareness around a topic that still carries far too much stigma and to help other families avoid the challenges his own family encountered while navigating Kim’s treatment and recovery.

Over the years, The Kim Foundation has played an active role in policy, outreach, education, and funding across all areas of mental health care in Nebraska. Since transitioning to a private operating foundation, our work has evolved from providing grants to directly serving our community through free education, programming, partnerships, and suicide prevention initiatives. While the way we carry out our mission has changed over the past 25 years, our purpose remains steadfast.