Upstate Foundation donor and community advocate Robert Helfrich has been recognized as the  Outstanding Philanthropist at this year’s National Philanthropy Day event, hosted by the Central New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

It is a well-deserved honor for his generous contributions and unwavering dedication to making a difference. Giving of his time, talent and treasure to address suicide prevention has become a way of life for Helfrich of Baldwinsville.

The mental health of children and adolescents has become so concerning that the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association recently declared it a national emergency. This national crisis hit close to home for Helfrich and his family after they lost their teenage son, Zach, to suicide in 2019.

Helfrich quickly turned his pain and heartbreak into action, creating a 501(c)3 charitable organization in Zach’s honor—the Zach Helfrich Memorial Fund, Inc. From there, Helfrich began planning his first fundraising event, the inaugural Life is Worth Living 5k hosted at Abbott’s Farm in Baldwinsville. The event, which has continued annually, raises funds to support suicide awareness and prevention; in the five years since Zach’s death, the 5k race has grown tremendously in terms of community awareness, attendance and funds raised.

Year after year, Helfrich has added additional fundraising events to his annual calendar and has seen increased proceeds from these efforts every year. Some new events like the Life Worth Living Golf Tournament have made their mark and have become annual fundraisers. Due solely to Helfrich’s community advocacy, others have resulted in larger, independent events selecting the Zach Helfrich Memorial Fund Inc. as the beneficiary for the proceeds from their events, including Fox Fest 2024, a local music festival.

Since the inception of the Zach Helfrich Memorial Fun dInc., Helfrich has committed more than $100,000 to national and locally based organizations supporting suicide awareness and prevention, including a $75,000 commitment to the Upstate Foundation’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Campaign. In 2022, Helfrich decided to partner with the Upstate Foundation, consolidating his philanthropic giving to support the Zach Helfrich Memorial Endowment at the Foundation. The endowment fund supports the Psychiatry High Risk Program at Upstate University Hospital, a highly effective and nationally recognized outpatient treatment program for adolescents and young adults at a high risk of suicide established by Robert Gregory, MD. 

In addition to raising funds for this cause, Helfrich has remained a fierce advocate for building awareness around the topic of suicide and youth mental health. He has been interviewed on local TV stations, participated in radio segments, presented to Civil Air Patrol Cadets attending the New York encampment at the 174^th Fighter Wing base, and has continued to be a resource for other parents and families who are facing the loss of a loved one.

Caption: Kelly Rose, Upstate Foundation; Helfrich; Dr. Robert Gregory and Dr. Rebecca Shields of Upstate's Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, at the AFP awards presentation.