Glenbrook North teams shine a light on mental health with Spartans Care Fair
After Glenbrook North High School's 2022 "Mental Health Matters" lacrosse event, the Spartans seniors told coach Justin Georgacakis they'd like to see it grow.
He listened and responded.
Working with Community Action Together for Children's Health (CATCH), the third annual event this Saturday will bring in a dozen mental health service providers and expand the sports action to both boys and girls lacrosse and Spartans baseball and softball teams.
"It's something that's been important to me," said Georgacakis, who last summer told CATCH founder Amy Oberholzer he'd like to make the event larger.
"We've had many people who have had good mental health, and (others) who've struggled with mental health. It's just a way for us to be more transcendent as a program," Georgacakis said.
The Spartans Care Fair will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday outdoors at Glenbrook North, a kickoff to May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
"We are really grateful to be able to partner with Glenbrook North and Coach Geo and the lacrosse program to shine a light on mental health and bring resources to the community," said Julie Weinberg, vice president of CATCH, which also had a mental health awareness event during the 2022 football season.
"Building community and giving kids a sense of belonging and support goes a long way in improving and strengthening their mental health, just letting kids know there's resources available to build the skills that they need to help themselves," Weinberg said.
CATCH is among 12 mental health service providers scheduled to be on hand Saturday in the field between the school and the football stadium: Compass Health Center, Family Service Center, Glenbrook North's Mental Health Advisory Board and the school's chapter of Operation Snowball, the Glenview/Northbrook Coalition for Youth, Josselyn Center, Paws for Patrick, Peer Services, Plena Mind Center, Youth Services for Glenview/Northbrook, and the National Alliance for Mental Health.
The popular Spice City Music team of emcee Ryan Kreiter and disc jockey Adam Shaw will be there, along with an inflatable ride for children. Organizers also are hoping to secure a food truck.
On the fields, girls varsity lacrosse hosts Lake Zurich at 10 a.m., followed by the boys team against Stevenson at noon. Georgacakis coached Stevenson coach Tom Hake, a Class of 2009 Spartans lacrosse player.
The Spartans baseball team, celebrating senior day, hosts Maine West at 10:30 a.m. The softball team plays Rolling Meadows at noon.
"People are invited to come, cheer on the high school teams, find out about mental health organizations, and find out about CATCH," Weinberg said.
"It's been very well-received. Kids and their families are grateful to make connections with resources in the community, and I think they're happy to see Glenbrook North prioritizing mental health."
Georgacakis and the lacrosse program have been leaders in this regard. After a 2020 season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the coach became more familiar with CATCH over Zoom conversations, in 2021 and 2022 Glenbrook North scheduled mental health awareness events around its home games against New Trier.
"It brought a lot more awareness," Georgacakis said.
Spartans players have also sold commemorative clothing items with proceeds going to the Glenbrook North Mental Health Advisory Board. Over the past two years they've donated $7,500, Georgacakis said.
"I think partnering up with CATCH has been phenomenal because they've got a community of support and they're community based. And everything we're trying to do with Glenbrook North lacrosse is around community," Georgacakis said.