The leaders of the Jake’s Hope organization announces the third annual “Jake’s Grab a Pole, Pick a Hole Ice Fishing Event” on Feb. 6, in which participants will ice fish for prizes, fun, and bragging rights, all while honoring the memory of one young Minnesota man and raising money for suicide prevention.
Jake’s Hope nonprofit 501(c)3 organization was started after the suicide death of 18-year-old Jake Steuernagel of Lindstrom on June 17, 2013. The organization’s goal is to raise awareness of mental health issues, bullying issues, and to reduce suicides through prevention education within MN communities.
“This event brings people together to ice fish, have fun, and get involved in suicide prevention,” co-founder of Jake’s Hope, Jeff Steuernagel, said in a press release. “We have great sponsors, prizes, and lots of fun activities during the day for participants.”
The Feb. 6 ice fishing event consists of a youth ice fishing contest with prizes, an adult ice fishing contest with prizes, weigh-in station, a large raffle fundraiser in heated tents, bonfires, activities for the kids, food, and mental health resources, all out on the ice on North Center Lake in Center City.
“It started out as an ice fishing event in Jake’s memory, but it has grown into so much more,” co-founder of Jake’s Hope Deanna Steuernagel said in a press release. “Our goal is to keep people talking about mental health and suicide, and to raise funds to be able to continue presenting suicide prevention programs in MN communities.”
In 2014 and 2015, the Jake’s Hope team, consisting of a certified suicide prevention instructor, trained over 320 people in MN communities in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), which is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program.
More information about Jake’s Hope, the ice fishing event, and suicide prevention, can be found at www.jakeshope1994.com