Today, Thursday, April 20, The Today Show spotlighted a nonprofit that was started by Ridgefield native Pam (Bossidy) Martin and her husband Chris following the death of their son by suicide.
Like many young people, Chris Martin experienced periods of profound emotional isolation and lacked the skills and opportunities to express his struggles. Chris’s experience is at the core of the RADical Hope mission.
RADical Hope funds RADical Health, a groundbreaking wellness program that equips young adults to cope before they reach a crisis point.
NBC’s Today Show reporter Kate Snow explains, “A college course called Radical Health is helping students discuss and improve their mental well-being — and it’s gaining steam, spreading to more than 20 colleges across the United States and even the NFL..”
Snow takes viewers into a classroom at Pace University in New York where RADical Health is at work by way of an elective course where students can talk openly about their well-being, and develop meaningful connections and resilience skills. RADical Health has already reached 10,000 students.
RADical Hope first launched in 2020, at NYU this fall, will be on more than 30 college campuses across the country. But, the need extends beyond college. “The NFL using this with some of their rookie players,” says Snow.
Ridgefield residents Larry Bossidy and his son, Paul are members of RADical Hope's Board of Directors.
Watch the segment on The Today Show here.