SPS deserves credit for local efforts

Recently a suicide occurred in Batavia. Suicide Prevention Services, (SPS) an agency based there, responded immediately with massive support in a variety of ways, to the family, to the victim's school and school friends. In gratitude, the family is planning a fundraiser for AFSP, a national agency. (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

However, this confusion of AFSP with SPS is understandable. Each year, AFSP holds a well-publicized 24-hour walkathon fundraiser in Chicago, and last year held one in Elgin, where SPS not AFSP provides services and developed contacts.

Your readers should know some remarkable facts. While AFSP's websites and promotions list "direct service" as a primary function, in fact, they provide no direct services in the Fox Valley area. SPS does this on a very small budget. SPS sponsors the 24/7 suicide prevention hotline and AFSP has no such hotline.

Approximately 40 percent of money donated to AFSP goes to a private company which organizes AFSP walkathons and other fundraisers. This is shocking but true: For every dollar given to AFSP by participants and contributors, 40 cents goes to this event planner contractor. Large percentages of donations go to AFSP's national and Chicago offices to employees and advertising and administration.

These are facts; SPS provides all the local services that AFSP does not. SPS should be recognized for what it is: a local agency, highly cost-effective and extremely service-oriented. It deserves all the support that the Fox Valley area and Kane and Kendall County region can provide.

John Uhrich

Naperville