Our Story
Creating the Shine Through Foundation is a deeply personal and heartfelt journey. It all began when our 10-year-old son, AJ, took his own life. It is a devastating tragedy that we hope no family ever has to endure. This unimaginable loss left our family shattered and struggling to comprehend how such a young life could be taken in such a way. Suicide was never even a possibility in our minds. Sadly, this situation is more common than we ever realized.
Like many families who face tragedies, we realized that we were not alone in our pain. Countless families across the world are impacted by similar heart-wrenching experiences every day. It was then that we made a commitment to ourselves and to others - if there was any way we could help prevent others from experiencing the same anguish that we did, we would do everything in our power to make it happen.
Our journey has been one of healing and growth - both individually and as a community united by shared experiences. By sharing our story openly and honestly, we hope to break down stigmas surrounding mental health while fostering empathy and understanding.
In memory of AJ's vibrant spirit that continues to shine through us all, Shine Through strives to create meaningful change in the world of mental health advocacy. Together with others who have faced similar hardships or wish to make a difference, we can work towards building stronger support networks while preventing future tragedies.
We invite you to join us on this transformative journey as we strive to make a lasting impact and ensure that no family has to endure the pain that we did. Together, we can shine a light on mental health and create a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported.
Your donations will go directly to causes supporting mental health in our community and to scholarships improving the opportunities that some students seldom find. Our first scholarships have impacted the lives of several college-bound students with a financial scholarship and a laptop, but we’re ready to expand our reach with your support.
If you are interested in supporting the foundation in any way or if you’re a family in need of resources to help you through a difficult time, please reach out to us on our contact page. You are not alone; together, we can shine a light so others can find hope.
-Crystal Foster
If you are interested in learning more about who we are and our journey through tragedy you can pick up a copy of Crystal’s new book “Finding Purpose in the Darkness: A Mothers Journey Through Child Loss”
