Welcome to The Z-Cares Foundation
Our Story
To understand the Z-Cares Foundation, it's crucial to know the significance of the 'Z' in Z-Cares. Established in memory of Zachary Nimmo, the foundation was created by the Nimmo Family—Zachary's parents, sister Samantha, and their extended family and friends. This initiative emerged in response to the overwhelming love for Zachary during and after his life. Z-Cares is a nonprofit foundation with a singular mission: to foster a world filled with hope.
Zachary, a vibrant individual, was not just a son, brother, nephew, cousin, grandson, teammate, but, above all, a friend. Universally loved, he consistently prioritized others' needs over his own. Zachary courageously stood against bullies, supported fallen opponents on the sports field, and found joy in teasing his sister. He was a 'Hybrid' in the eyes of his friends—excelling in sports like lacrosse and soccer, while embracing his inner 'geek' with a love for fishing, gaming, and comics. Zachary's life serves as a lesson for us all.
In tribute to Zachary, the Z-Cares Foundation aims to initiate and sustain conversations about youth mental health. Encouraging open dialogue, the foundation advocates for sharing feelings and concerns. If you sense negativity or witness a friend grappling with anxiety, the message is clear: speak up. The foundation emphasizes the collective responsibility we share, reinforcing the idea that no one fights alone and there is always hope. In unity, the call is made: Let's talk about it!
Our Founders
Steve Nimmo
Samantha Nimmo
Mannie Nimmo
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"Reflecting on my role with the Z-Cares Foundation, I am reminded of why I am so passionate about being involved in something so meaningful. In October of 2018, our world changed forever, and as a family, we had to decide on a new direction. Zachary was an extraordina
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"Reflecting on my role with the Z-Cares Foundation, I am reminded of why I am so passionate about being involved in something so meaningful. In October of 2018, our world changed forever, and as a family, we had to decide on a new direction. Zachary was an extraordinary person, and we knew we had to honor him in a special way. Z-Cares allows us to do just that—helping others in his name.
Zachary was the first to stand up to a bully for a friend, and now, we are doing the same in his honor. Mental health has become the new bully, and together, we stand up against it. I am incredibly proud of this organization, and I truly believe Zachary would be too."
Mannie Nimmo
Samantha Nimmo
Mannie Nimmo
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"When asked WHY I do what I do with Z-Cares, I always answer the same - one can curl up in a ball and do nothing or one can keep the sunshine alive by making sure we learn to deal with the dark shadows that pop up in everyone's life and learn to TALK about them. This
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"When asked WHY I do what I do with Z-Cares, I always answer the same - one can curl up in a ball and do nothing or one can keep the sunshine alive by making sure we learn to deal with the dark shadows that pop up in everyone's life and learn to TALK about them. This is what Z-Cares is all about - starting and keeping the conversation about mental health going and getting people to realize mental health is as important as physical health and we need to treat it that way!"
Samantha Nimmo
Samantha Nimmo
Samantha Nimmo
Psychology Graduate
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"A lot of people ask me why i’m involved in a foundation around mental health. My answer is simple, because of my brother Zachary. The life that he lived helping others empowers me everyday to spread the message about how important mental health is. No one should live with the weight t
Psychology Graduate
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"A lot of people ask me why i’m involved in a foundation around mental health. My answer is simple, because of my brother Zachary. The life that he lived helping others empowers me everyday to spread the message about how important mental health is. No one should live with the weight that anxiety and depression puts upon you. It's our mission at Z-Cares to show people it’s simply okay not to be okay. I am beyond proud and passionate to help break the stigma around mental health. Mental health is beyond important to our overall well being and not enough people believe this yet."
Advisor
Mark A. Reinecke, Ph.D.
Professional Advisor
Mark A. Reinecke, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He served for 18 years as Professor and Chief of the Division of Psychology at Northwestern. Prior to this he served for 14 years as the Director of the Center for Cognitive Therapy in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago. He is a Distinguished Fellow and former president of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in both Clinical Psychology and Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Reinecke also is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. He is the recipient of the Cynthia D. Belar Distinguished Service Award from the American Psychological Association. His research and clinical interests center on understanding and treating depression, suicide, and anxiety among children and adolescents. He has lectured internationally and has served as a visiting professor at institutions in Europe and Asia. Dr. Reinecke is widely published, and has authored or edited eleven books, including Cognitive therapy across the lifespan, Comparative treatments of depression, Cognitive therapy with children and adolescents, Personality disorders in children and adolescents, and Cognitive-behavioral therapy with adults. His first book for a general audience, Little ways to keep calm and carry on was published by New Harbinger. A new book, Landmark papers in psychiatry, (Oxford University Press) was published earlier this year.