Out of Darkness Walks

Out of Darkness Walks 2022

By Lauren Porter, National Philanthropy Chair

Community Walks Highlight

Community and campus walks are the biggest fundraisers for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Over 400 community walks take place all around the country typically in September and October. They are a core part of the Out of the Darkness movement spanning back to 2004. These walks raise crucial funds for the AFSP mission, provide space to talk about healing and loss, open up conversations around mental health, and bring the community together. Five of our chapters participated in local community walks to start the year off strong with a commitment to suicide prevention and promoting mental health. These five walks alone collectively raised nearly $300,000 with other 2500 participants across 263 teams.

Kappa Alpha Xi kicked things off first in the Utica, NY, walk on September 25. October kicked off with two walks during the first weekend. Kappa Omicron participated in the Pittsfield walk on October 1. The next day, Kappa Lambda attended and volunteered with the walk committee in Bangor, ME. (They’re now partnering to continue with other AFSP volunteer opportunities in the community, such as co-hosting the annual International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day in November!) Wrapping up community walk season, two of our New York chapters participate during the second weekend of October: Kappa Alpha Gamma in Highland, NY, and Kappa Alpha Omicron, in Liverpool, NY, on October 8 and 9.

The National Philanthropy Committee and our AFSP partner have a goal of getting every chapter involved in a campus or community walk! We’re at 50% so far! We hope that you will consider participating in a walk near you next Out of the Darkness season (or host your own like Kappa Sigma!)

Kappa Sigma Highlight

Kappa Sigma at Plymouth State University was the first Kappa chapter to take the initiative and plan on AFSP Community Walk on their campus! In just two short weeks, actives Corinne Cloutier, Kasey Arnold, and Darby Dwyer put together a walk attended by dozens of campus and city community members on April 23, 2022. They secured high-level sponsorships from businesses and university departments, recruited speakers and performers, engaged other student groups in planning and participating, and raised over $10,000! This resulted in them being honored with the Elizabeth Jason National Philanthropy Award at Convention 2022 and far surpassing the record fundraising in our organization’s entire history.

Seeing how successful the event was and how the community came together for this cause, Kappa Sigma committed to planning another walk this fall. The same three stellar planners took the lead again, collaborated with our AFSP chapter, and motivated individuals, Kappa and non-Kappas alike, to come together. October 23, 2022, was a day filled with energy, hope, support, open conversations, moments of silence, and reminders of why we continue this fight. The walk raised nearly $9000! This is the fundraiser that officially put Kappa Delta Phi NAS over the $100,000 mark for the total amount raised for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention! Amazing work, Kappa Sigma! Thank you for taking on this initiative and showing us how much power we have to make a difference!

We have the power to prevent suicide, save lives, change the culture around mental health, and bring hope. Any student group can host an AFSP walk on their campus. From planning guides to marketing materials to food and water to day-of attendance, you will have the full support of the AFSP and Kappa National Board. Email philanthropy@kappadeltaphinas.org if you’d like to consider hosting your own walk!

Check out their fall walk! Check out their spring walk!