Dr. George Rapier III partners with the Inspiring Children Foundation to help mental health through the #NotAloneChallenge Dinner Series.
Trey Goldsmith, Dr. George Rapier III, Lacey Abbott, Steve Wozniak, Filippo Gay and Andy Grammer attend the dinner series PHOTO BY: KABLIK PHOTO GROUP
Since 2002, the Inspiring Children Foundation (inspiringchildren.org) has been helping youth struggling with financial hardship, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The online and in-person program is designed to help a child heal, grow and be inspired to perform at the highest levels.
“Those who face mental health challenges at a young age are the most sensitive and extraordinary among us,” says Ryan Wolfington, who co-founded the organization with Grammy Award winner Jewel and help from twin brother and Miami resident Sean Wolfington. ICF takes a “whole human” approach, inspiring physical, social, emotional and mental health. According to Wolfington 100% of the youth have recently reached remission and admission to college, with 58% of them into Ivy League universities, from Stanford to Dartmouth. ICF intentionally avoids focusing on results but has very impressive outcomes.
JP Saxe performs. PHOTO BY: TRENT ALENIK
One result Wolfington is willing to focus on is the success of the #NotAloneChallenge (notalonechallenge.org), an online movement and dinner series conceived by Dr. George Rapier III—founder of The Foundation Reserve—a social club that facilitates travel, community, wine and a philanthropic passion for mental health. The dinner series, presented by Foundation Reserve, brings together founders, CEOs, thought leaders, musicians and celebrities who can help make a difference. The dinner recently celebrated Mental Health Month in Miami. Thanks to Dr. George Rapier III and hosts John and Selene Devaney and Sean and Ana Wolfington, they brought like-minded people together to connect, have fun, and raise awareness for mental health.
Quick to credit Dr. Rapier, Wolfington shares how he is transforming lives. “Dr. Rapier’s passion to transform the mental health pathway is unmatched,” said ICF Founder Ryan Wolfington. “He’s using 40 years of expertise to save lives. He has been a gift to the children we serve.”
Dr. Rapier was recently honored by Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, with the “Woz Award” for his efforts to invest in the mental health landscape.
Sean Wilfington with guest, Agueda Lopez and Luis Fonsi at the #NotAloneChallenge dinner. PHOTO BY: TRENT ALENIK
“Foundation Reserve is combining my passions for wine, music, travel, philanthropic work and great company,” says Dr. Rapier. “I deeply care about the work Jewel and Inspiring Children Foundation are doing, and want to help every way I can.”
Special guests included Grammy-winning artists such as Luis Fonsi and JP Saxe and featured original art from some of Miami’s top artists, including Peter Tunney, Romero Britto and Barbara Barreto.
The challenge offers mental health tools to anyone in need—at notalonechallenge.org. “It has become the largest mental health campaign in history,” reveals Wolfington. “So far, it’s reached 3.1 billion people and generated 600 million media impressions.”
Luis Fonsi performs at the Miami dinner event. PHOTOS BY TRENT ALENIK
Wolfington shared that much of the nonprofit is run by the youth themselves. “Through our Project-Driven Learning Program, we empower children to heal their emotional and mental health triggers by giving them real-life work and opportunities to grow.” ICF also inspires mental health through tennis, entrepreneur skills, mentoring and education.
“Everyone needs emotional and mental health. We give young people what our generation lacked.” –RYAN WOLFINGTON
While Wolfington is quick to shine the spotlight on the foundation, it was the entrepreneur’s own struggles with mental health that sparked his desire to heal others. “My twin brother Sean says we are the first children in the program, which is true,” he shares. “Everyone needs emotional and mental health. We give young people what our generation lacked, a special reminder that you’re ‘not alone.’
Photography by: Photos By: Kablik Photo Group; Trent Alenik
