The Pete Foundation
Championing Youth Mental Health
Our Mission
Rally communities to champion youth mental health and wellness through normalizing the topic, promoting education and providing tools for healthy emotional development.
Our Vision
We envision a world in which every individual is equipped with the tools necessary to understand, express, and seek support for themselves and others. It is a world free from the social stigmas surrounding mental health, with a complete understanding of its effects. It is a world in which suicide attempts are eliminated because depression and anxiety are detected and addressed starting at a young age.
Our Impact
We are currently involved in numerous initiatives such as:
- Organizing community awareness events
- Partnering with Louisville organizations
- Facilitating research efforts
- Implementing evidence-based pilot programs
- Developing educational material
- Establishing strategic action plans
"If individuals are able to talk about depression and anxiety with understanding and acceptance, the path that all too often leads to suicide can be thwarted."
— The Pete Foundation Team
Pete's Story
The Life That Inspired The Pete Foundation
Pete Jones was born the second of a set of identical twins, bringing joy during his first year of life as his parents cared for his twin, Matt, who suffered from a heart condition requiring surgery. Pete was their strong, healthy baby who provided comfort during challenging times.
The Jones family was complete with Mom and Dad, Jeffrey, Jack, Matt, Pete, and Michelle. Their group of cousins, all living within a few miles of each other, were close in age, and times together were full of love, fun, and laughter.
Pete and Matt shared an enviable bond, playing easily with other children and always sharing the same friendships. Pete loved basketball, and together with Matt, they started on their high school team, often playing the full game time. They were awarded the alumni association award upon graduation.
Academic Excellence
College offered Pete choices. Both the Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville and the University of Alabama offered Pete a full scholarship. He chose The University of Alabama, studying Mechanical Engineering—the perfect college for a young man with an unending love for football.
Graduation was four years later—truly a happy day in Pete's life. Pete returned home to Louisville and attended the University of Louisville, working on a Masters of Engineering in Industrial Engineering. He continued his dedicated studies and attained a 4.0 in his first semester.
The Hidden Struggle
It was during his second semester that it began to fall apart for Pete. He was unable to finish the semester, alerting his parents that something was wrong. He confided that he was "sad and didn't know why." He accepted help, seeing a psychiatrist and maintaining regular care, but sadly, there was a lack of understanding of his true inner struggles.
Pete expressed in a final note that he had suffered from the age of 13 or 14, and that there was no way others could understand how he felt. The Jones Family created The Pete Foundation for Depression Prevention after their beloved Pete took his life at the age of 23 on December 9, 2016.
It struck them that Pete was only able to convey the depth of his pain in a letter discovered after his death. The Jones Family decided to invest their efforts toward ensuring that no person would have to suffer silently in the way Pete suffered for 10 years.
The Power of Expression
How Journaling Connects to Pete's Legacy
Pete's story reveals a profound truth: the importance of being able to express our inner struggles before they become overwhelming. Pete was only able to fully convey his pain in a letter found after his death—highlighting the critical need for safe, accessible ways to process and share our emotions.
The Pete Foundation's Approach
- Normalizing mental health conversations
- Providing tools for emotional development
- Early detection and intervention
- Community education and support
minimee's Mission
- Safe space for daily emotional expression
- AI-guided reflection and understanding
- Pattern recognition for early awareness
- Building emotional intelligence
Just as The Pete Foundation works to normalize mental health conversations and provide tools for emotional development, minimee offers a private, supportive space where individuals can express their thoughts and feelings daily. Through guided journaling and AI insights, users can develop the emotional awareness and expression skills that might help prevent the silent suffering Pete experienced.
Our Partnership
Supporting Youth Mental Health Together
minimee is proud to partner with The Pete Foundation in supporting youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention. We believe that tools for emotional wellness—like journaling—should contribute to the broader mission of normalizing mental health conversations and providing support for young people.
Our Commitment
Making Every Subscription Count
For every completed annual minimee subscription, we donate $1 to The Pete Foundation.
This means that when you choose minimee for your journaling journey, you're not just investing in your own mental wellness—you're also supporting vital youth mental health advocacy, research, and community programs that help prevent the kind of silent suffering Pete experienced.
Special Offer for Pete Foundation Supporters:
Use code PETE to extend your free trial to 2 weeks instead of 1 week
How Journaling Supports Mental Health
Emotional Processing
Writing helps process difficult emotions and experiences, reducing their psychological impact and preventing buildup.
Self-Awareness
Regular reflection builds understanding of emotional patterns, triggers, and personal growth areas.
Stress Reduction
The act of writing can lower cortisol levels and provide a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety.
Early Detection
Regular journaling can help identify concerning patterns early, enabling timely intervention and support.
Safe Expression
Provides a private space to express thoughts and feelings that might be difficult to share verbally.
Building Resilience
Documenting challenges and victories builds confidence, coping strategies, and emotional resilience.
Join Us in Honoring Pete's Legacy
Start your journaling journey with minimee and be part of something bigger. Every subscription supports youth mental health advocacy and continues The Pete Foundation's mission of normalizing mental health conversations and providing tools for emotional development.
Our Promise: $1 from every completed annual minimee subscription goes directly to The Pete Foundation to support youth mental health advocacy, research, and community programs that help prevent silent suffering.
Learn More About The Pete Foundation
The Pete Foundation continues Pete's legacy by championing youth mental health and wellness, working to create a world where every individual has the tools to understand, express, and seek support for their mental health.
Visit The Pete Foundation