The Aaron Zaruba Foundation raised $45,000 in the past year to benefit local groups providing mental health services, according to a recent announcement from the foundation.

Beneficiaries included the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, a local suicide hotline, and the Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Community Services Board.

Dan and Tereasa Zaruba of Gloucester established the fund in memory of their son, Aaron, who took his life in September 2016.

“Our mission is to spread educational materials and promote teachings on suicide awareness and prevention,” said co-founder Tereasa Zaruba, “as well as to provide psychiatric treatment for those in crisis who otherwise could not afford it.” 

Of the total, $32,000 was generated at the foundation’s Stand Up Against Suicide fundraiser in 2018.

CHKD received funds to aid in the construction of a new Behavioral Wing while COPE, a local suicide hotline, received a grant to increase the s...