Luncheon to bring focus on prevention

By Juliette Coulter

Kevin Berthia, suicide prevention advocate and suicide attempt survivor, and Kevin Briggs, California Highway Patrolman and author of Guardian of the Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair, will be the featured speakers for Grant Halliburton Foundation’s Beacon of Hope Community Luncheon on Friday, April 19, at the Omni Dallas Hotel.

The Beacon of Hope Luncheon supports Grant Halliburton Foundation’s work to provide education, resources and support for children, teen and young adult mental health. Sponsorships start at $600, and individual tickets will be available in February 2024. 

The 2023 Beacon of Hope Presenting Sponsor is Emily Lewis. Natalie Hatchett and Courtney Hubbard are luncheon co-chairs; Chris and Brent Bolding are vice co-chairs, and founding luncheon chair is Barb Farmer. 

“We invite you to join us for a conversation with these two ‘Kevins’ who speak very candidly and openly about how they met on the Golden Gate Bridge when one tried to take his life,” said Kevin Hall, president of Grant Halliburton Foundation. “Their message of hope and healing is powerful, and we hope that it will inspire you to open up to others struggling with thoughts of suicide.”

In 2005, Kevin Berthia, a young father battling depression, met California Highway Patrolman Kevin Briggs during a very public suicide attempt. Berthia was facing substantial medical debt and went to the Golden Gate Bridge with the intention to jump. There he met Sergeant Briggs, now deemed the “Guardian of the Golden Gate” due to his efforts that have prevented more than 200 suicides from the bridge. During their encounter, Briggs listened to Berthia for 92 minutes as he stood 220 feet above the waters of the San Francisco Bay. Ultimately, Berthia made the decision to come back over the rail, choosing hope and life. This moment was captured by a nearby photographer, and the resulting image has been shared globally via news outlets and social media platforms. 

After reconnecting at an event eight years later, Briggs and Berthia (pictured) are now close friends and sought-after speakers who bring a message of hope and healing to the conversation about suicide prevention and recovery. Their inspirational true story will be profiled in “92 Minutes,” a feature documentary in production by Dallas-based film nonprofit Fotolanthropy, whose films have been featured on Netflix and beyond. 

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Texas youth ages 10-24 (CDC). The Beacon of Hope Community Luncheon aims to bring focus to the vital work needed to educate the North Texas community on adolescent mental health and suicide prevention. Through its work in North Texas schools and communities, Grant Halliburton Foundation aims to change this reality as it works to promote awareness and understanding of teen and young adult mental health and to prevent suicide.

In the last 17 years, the Foundation has provided mental health education, training and support to nearly 325,000 students, educators, parents and professionals, thanks to funds raised from the Beacon of Hope Luncheon. Visit GrantHalliburton.org/boh.