Let’s help every young man realize he’s never alone.
The Nick Janus Foundation is focused on creating a culture that celebrates and normalizes mental health conversations among young men.
Through our work and the work of our partners, we’re committed to two key pillars to save young men from anxiety, depression and suicide by:
Creating Education + Building Community
Our amazing partners:
Our why:
It’s all for Nick.
Nick Janus was a bright, athletic and well-liked and respected young man—and yet, in his late teen years, he struggled with anxiety and unbeknownst to his family and friends, suicide ideation. Just days after he started college in fall 2022, he took his own life.
After Nick passed, we vowed to put our efforts and our whole hearts into helping other families. We’re building a community that tells young men: there’s no shame and embarrassment about the way you feel. And there’s always an answer.
Consider joining us on this journey by contributing your time or resources to the mission. Together, we will make the world (as a young Nick once said), “SO better.”
Our Story
Support our mission.
Your contribution helps create education and community to serve young men and prevent suicide. Please consider giving to support Nick’s legacy.
Our Board
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Kara Janus
FOUNDER
● Mother, wife and suicide loss survivor
● Former elementary educator and instructional specialist turned real estate agent
● Advocate for research, awareness, prevention and support of fellow loss survivors
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Pete Janus
FOUNDER
● Father, husband and suicide loss survivor
● CEO of Janus Title Agency and longtime real estate attorney
● Teacher, mentor and coach with a passion for baseball and basketball
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John P Ackerman, PhD
BOARD MEMBER
● Nationally-renowned clinical psychologist
● Suicide Prevention Clinical Manager for the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus, OH)
● Widely published on youth suicide prevention best practices and suicide reporting guidelines for media professionals
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Jesse White
BOARD MEMBER
● Illinois Secretary of State, 1999-2023
● Founder of the Jesse White Foundation, which serves at-risk youth
● Longtime advocate for young people who introduced safer driving standards, a graduated licensing program and an organ donation program with 7.4 million registered donors
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Nandia P. Black, JD
BOARD MEMBER
● Mayor of the Village of Kildeer, IL from 2009-present
● Advocate for mental health awareness and domestic abuse survivors
● Owner of The Law Offices of Nandia P. Black, with a focus on real estate and criminal defense
“How are you today? Really.”
— The question we should ask every single day
No matter who or where you are, you’re on a journey and today is just one step in it.
We’d love to move forward with you.
As we continue on our mission, we’d love to share what we learn, make connections or work together.
Drop us your email and we’ll add you to the list of friends we keep up with.