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The GEM Project
The GEM Project
The GEM Project
The GEM Project
Current Team
Gem Project Dayton Founder and Director
Leigh Ann Fulford
I am a local volunteer who is passionate about suicide prevention. Why? I do not want anyone to go through the pain that our family and friends experienced when my sister died by suicide in 2005. I am a certified master trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), QPR, & Working Minds; an active volunteer for the Montgomery County Prevention Coalition; and co-founder of The Out of the Darkness Walk in Dayton. My goal is to educate people about mental health and to reduce the stigma and shame of suicide by talking about it.
Archbishop Alter High School
Reese Hornick
I am at Senior at Alter High School and this is my third year on the GEM team. I am heavily involved in theater around Dayton, as well as dance, softball, and the Hope Squad. I am so grateful for the GEM Project and I hope to make a positive and large difference in teen mental health.
Kettering Fairmont High School
Josiah Hall
I am a senior at Fairmont High school. I play soccer and am also involved in various organizations at Fairmont, which includes photography for a lot of the sports. I joined Hope Squad in 7th grade and got more and more involved every year. After losing my best friend to suicide freshman year, I truly realized how much mental health matters in everyday life. By joining GEM, I hope to spread suicide and mental health awareness as well as getting the community more involved in mental health awareness.
Oakwood High School
Griffin Greear
I am a junior at Oakwood High School and excited to be part of the GEM Project! I love running with the cross country team and participate in tons of theater around the Dayton area. I am so excited to make a difference in the community by helping bring this wonderful project to life.
Oakwood High School
Rylee Bourne
I am a Freshman at Oakwood High School and a member of Hope Squad.
Oakwood High School
Daisy Jones
I am a freshman at Oakwood High School and a member of Hope Squad.
Beavercreek High School
Bella Kuhl
I am a sophomore at Beavercreek High School and a new member of the GEM Project Dayton Team. I am the props chief for the Beavercreek High school tech crew. I joined the Gem Project Dayton because I want to help bring awareness to suicide, mental health, and resources available. I don't want to lose the people I care about most and I don't want anyone to go through the pain either.
Alter High School
Liz Doorley
I am a sophomore at Alter High School. I am a new member of GEM Project and I am also a member of Hope Squad! I enjoy playing tennis and I am also a member of the Alter Lancerettes! I am so excited to be a part of something that will shine a light on mental health. I hope to change the picture of mental health and I believe this project will do that.
Chaminade Julienne High School
Iliana Dann
I am a junior at Chaminade Julienne and I am part of Phoenix A Cappella and stage manager for the fall play and spring musical. Along with other school activities, I also love playing guitar and sharing music. Many of my friends and I struggle with different mental health issues and I think it's so important that we are there for each other.
Chaminade Julienne High School
Quentin Whitfield
I am a junior at Chaminade Julienne and excited to be part of GEM Project Dayton.
Chaminade Julienne High School
Kelly Stewart
I am a junior at Chaminade Julienne High School and a new member of GEM. I enjoy playing soccer, singing in Vega one of CJ’s A Cappella groups, and doing art in my free time. I am so excited to make an impact on people’s lives and advocate for all mental health through this project!
Centerville High School
Lainey Hilliard
I am a Sophomore at Centerville High School and this is my first year on the GEM Project team! I am a lifeguard, I do swim, volleyball, and am apart of CHS Hope Squad. I’m excited for the opportunity to be more involved in creating awareness for teen mental health
Centerville High School
Ava Hickey
I am a sophomore at Centerville High School and this is my first year being apart of the GEM Project! I am involved in CHS Hope Squad, volleyball, and basketball. I am excited to make difference through GEM and I hope to break the stigma around mental health.
Springboro High School
Addi Haines
I am a junior at Springboro High School and so excited to be a part of the GEM Team! I love musical theatre and I cannot wait to make a difference in Dayton
Dayton STEM School
Olivia Simpson
I am at Senior at The Dayton Regional STEM School and this is my first year on the GEM team. I play Varsity Women’s Soccer and look forward to playing in college as well. In my free time I like to write music and help out in my community. I’m so glad to be part of the GEM team this year and plan to continue helping with mental health awareness anywhere I can.
Previous Teams
The 2024 - 2025 GEM Project Dayton Team
The 2023 - 2024 GEM Project Dayton Team
The 2022 - 2023 GEM Project Dayton Team
The 2021 - 2022 GEM Project Dayton Team
Click here for 24/7 mental health resources CALL or TEXT 988 if you need immediate support
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