It was the day before Thanksgiving in 2021 when a group of friends and family gathered to not only mourn the loss of, but to celebrate the life of one of their own. “An amazingly talented singer and songwriter. A great friend. Always there to help us out or cheer us up.” This is how Ryan Goldberg remembers Elijah Stepherson – who, just 9 days prior, had taken his own life. This Thanksgiving Eve, like so many other nights at Goldberg’s house, was filled with family and friends partaking in the usual cooking, storytelling, and music. “It was extra crowded. There were quite a few people in town because the next day was supposed to be Elijah’s wedding.”
“Towards the end of the evening, I asked my musician friends if they would be willing to play music if we had a larger memorial, where Elijah’s fans, friends, and fellow musicians could come together to honor him and remember the amazing human he was” remarks Goldberg. “We started planning just before the New Year when an old friend offered us a great venue on the west side of town.”
Little did the group know that they were in the beginning phases of a new non-profit. By February the event had picked up quite a bit of momentum, and with these friends once again sitting around his kitchen Goldberg wondered if they could turn the event into a fundraiser of some sort. His friend Brett Benton quickly jumped on the idea and the discussion led to the goal of raising money for mental health counseling – particularly for men, and particularly for those who cannot afford it.
Benton brought up the point that aside from men’s mental health being a largely unaddressed problem, it was severe in the Pensacola community. “I told Ryan that this could be the start of something bigger than us, and something that is definitely needed. I’m tired of losing friends,” recalls Benton. And just like, that The Campfire Fund of Florida was born. Four weeks later they were organized, had purchased websites, started social media pages, enlisted a graphic designer, and started receiving raffle item donations from local vendors.
On Sunday April 14th 2022, Goldberg, Benton & Co - supported by other local musicians, along with Chef Rusty Strain and his team at the Rusty Spoon food truck - welcomed over 600 people to Emerald Republic Brewing for the 1st Annual Elijah Stepherson Men’s Health Concert. “I knew we could throw a party. I was pretty sure people would come, but I had no idea it would be that big,” claims Goldberg. They were already working with two local therapists from Thrive Therapy Service in Pensacola passing business cards out at the event for anyone who wanted one. Benton says he remembers “guys coming up to me and saying ‘thank you’, flashing the therapists’ cards from their pockets.” By the end of the evening, they had raised enough money to start putting folks into therapy and the very next day they did just that. On the Monday morning following the event, Goldberg began receiving social media messages from local men in need of mental health counseling.
Over the past two years, The Campfire Fund of Florida has steadily grown. They have expanded into other fundraising events like Beard & Mustache competitions, Corn Hole Championships and more – all while encompassing the tradition of food and local music that started at Goldberg’s house. They are also rapidly becoming the charity of choice for other Gulf Coast fundraising events. “We try and plan events that will draw local supporters and those that need the services we offer. Even if they are not ready for therapy, just being around a positive vibe, and hearing others talk about their own experiences seems to help people open up about their struggles” says Goldberg.
To date, The Campfire Fund of Florida has funded mental health counseling sessions for about 45 men, boys, and couples in need. “We usually start off funding 6 sessions, then the therapist will let us know if more sessions are needed. We have some who have been attending sessions monthly for almost 2 years, and we have some who do six sessions and feel they have made enough progress to move on. The door is always open, and as long as we have funds we will be here to provide for the community.” Goldberg says that even though their charter is to provide mental health resources for men in the community, they will approve funding for anyone in need.
If you need help, are looking to support a local charity that is doing really meaningful work, or if you would like to attend an event; scan the QR below and check out The Campfire Fund of Florida. The Campfire Fund of Florida is a registered 501C3 charitable organization.