Dartmouth Rotary Launches Heartfelt Friendsgiving For Suicide Loss Awareness

The Dartmouth Rotary Club is once again stepping up for the community.

This time with a heartfelt Friendsgiving fundraiser to support Sunflowers For Sallie, a nonprofit born from unimaginable loss and transformed into a mission of compassion, education, and hope.

On Wednesday, November 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the VFW at 144 Cross Road in Dartmouth will host a Friendsgiving gathering alongside the Dartmouth Rotary Club featuring live music, raffles, food, and a cash bar, all in support of a cause with a deeply personal backstory.

A Daughter’s Story Behind the Mission

Sunflowers For Sallie was created by Hannah Walsh, who lost her mother, Sally LeBlanc, to suicide in 2007. Hannah was only six years old.

In a post reflecting on photos of herself as a child, she wrote:

“In between these two photos on February 26th, 2007 I remember telling my teacher how excited I was to go home because it was my mom’s 37th birthday.

That day… was the last time I ever saw my mom. That night, she took her own life.”

Walsh shared how, in the months and years that followed, she learned that grief made people uncomfortable – especially for kids.

“Everyone meant well, but it was easier to stay quiet than to talk about it. Sunflowers for Sallie grew out of that silence," she said.

Her mission is bigger than her own story. It’s for every student who returns to class after a loss and feels they need to pretend everything is fine. It’s for the quiet kids in the back row carrying invisible weight. It’s for the teachers who want to help but aren’t always equipped with the right tools.

“Schools are one of the most valuable assets in a child’s healing," Walsh said. "But only if they know how to respond.”

READ MORE: Dartmouth Man's Meaningful Message On Route 6

That is the heart of Sunflowers For Sallie – giving educators the training, awareness, and confidence to support grieving youth with compassion instead of avoidance.

Why the Sunflower

Walsh said the sunflower was her mother’s favorite. They turn toward the light, even after storms – something she hopes this initiative brings to other families: "light after loss."

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Friendsgiving With Purpose

For a $20 entry donation, guests can enjoy the evening while directly supporting educator grief-awareness trainings and youth mental-health initiatives. Every donation helps move the mission forward and ensures no child feels alone in their grief.

How to Attend and How to Help

Tickets are available now through Eventbrite and more information about the initiative can be found at PAACA, and those with questions can reach out to Hannah Walsh at paacaea@gmail.com.

If you're unable to attend but still want to support the mission, donations can be made through the Dartmouth Rotary Club's website.