Who we are
Our Mission
Our mission is to encourage meaningful conversations about youth mental health while reducing the stigma throughout communities.
Z-Cares Foundation will accomplish this mission through; providing evidence-based offerings; building awareness; and encouraging ongoing conversations about youth mental health throughout the communities we serve.
Z-Cares is here to help. Let's talk about it!
Our Vision
Established in 2019 to honor the memory of Zachary Nimmo, the Z-Cares Foundation embodies the essence of standing up for friends in need, just as Zachary did. Z-Cares is committed to confronting anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders by supporting the communities we serve through evidence-based programs and content offerings. Our vision is for all community members to recognize that it's 'OK to Not be OK.'
Founders
Steve Nimmo
Samantha Nimmo
Mannie Nimmo
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"In reflecting on my role in Z-Cares Foundation and why I want to be involved in something this special. In October of 2018 our world would shift forever and as a family we needed to decide a new direction. Zachary was such a special person and we knew we had to honor
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"In reflecting on my role in Z-Cares Foundation and why I want to be involved in something this special. In October of 2018 our world would shift forever and as a family we needed to decide a new direction. Zachary was such a special person and we knew we had to honor him in a very special way. Z-Cares allows us to help others in his honor. He was the one who quickly stood up to a bully for a friend, so we are doing to same in his name. Mental Health is now the bully and together we stand up. I am proud of this organization and I think he 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."
Youth Ambassadors
Ally
"Through my own mental health struggles I’ve learned the importance of inclusivity and acceptance. When you're in a dark place it can feel almost as if no one has and will ever feel the same way. Z-Cares breaks that stigma and reminds us all that we are in this together. At the end of the day the hardest things to be said should be said the loudest and that is why I joined Z-Cares team. "
Noor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"Mental health is important to me because I believe no one should have to suffer through anxiety or depression thinking they are alone. Mental health in general is very personal to me and I've watched it affect the people around me as well as myself. I truly believe the power of someone reaching out to help is still so underestimated and I want to make sure no one should have to feel like I once did. Z-Cares is doing a great job breaking the stigma of Mental Health issues and I'm so excited to be a part of what Z-Cares is doing."
Sruthi (she/her)
"Youth Mental Health Awareness is super important to me since I've experienced the negative burdens of today's society in regards to my health (and I'm still in High School). I don't want anyone else to feel the way I did, so I try to end the stigma as much as I can. I want to make the world a better place (even though it is quite a large task), so I joined the Z-Cares Community so I can talk about it!
Alexa
"Being involved in Z-Cares is important to me because it allows me to advocate for the mental health of others. Having struggled with my own mental health, I am very passionate about ending stigma surrounding mental health and creating awareness about the topic."
Aarnav
" I have struggled with severe anxiety for a long time, which has often been a major obstacle in my life. This is why I am particularly drawn to the mission of Z-Cares Initiative, which seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage meaningful conversations about youth mental health. I believe that by sharing my own experiences and struggles with others, I can help to create a more open and accepting dialogue around mental health issues."
Executive Team
Ken Nimmo, Director of Finance
Liz Lyons, Director of Education
Ken Nimmo, Director of Finance
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"This cause is important to me because we all struggle at one time or another. We need to talk about it. There should be a perception of strength to ask for help or to speak up. That is change I want to help make."
Laurie Whiteland, Treasurer
Liz Lyons, Director of Education
Ken Nimmo, Director of Finance
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"It is my privilege to serve as treasurer for the Z-Cares Foundation since the beginning of our work. The work we have been able to accomplish and plan to accomplish is having powerful impacts across our communities. I am looking forward to continue to help inspiring youth and help show there is always hope."
Liz Lyons, Director of Education
Liz Lyons, Director of Education
Margaret Ching, Director of Education
Ed.D.
"The Z-Cares Foundation holds an important link between hope and despair, darkness and light, solitude and community. I’ve worked as an educator for 32 years and I am excited to work together to create a supportive and responsive educational program to support families and youth learn ways to foster social emotional well-being and find hope through dark times."
Margaret Ching, Director of Education
Saradha Rajagopalan, Director of Administration
Margaret Ching, Director of Education
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"When I was asked to join the Z-Cares Board, I did not hesitate to say yes. I believe in ZCARES' mission and I want to be part of the change to destigmatize Mental Health struggles. I want to change the stigma from Mental Illness to Mental Wellness. We all need to look
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Youth Mental Health First Aider
"When I was asked to join the Z-Cares Board, I did not hesitate to say yes. I believe in ZCARES' mission and I want to be part of the change to destigmatize Mental Health struggles. I want to change the stigma from Mental Illness to Mental Wellness. We all need to look at mental health not as an illness but as part of an intricate process to maintain our wellness."
Noor Dharni, Director of Events
Saradha Rajagopalan, Director of Administration
Saradha Rajagopalan, Director of Administration
"Mental health is important to me because I believe no one should have to suffer through anxiety or depression thinking they are alone. Mental health in general is very personal to me and I've watched it affect the people around me as well as myself. I truly believe the power of someone reaching out to help is still so underestimated and
"Mental health is important to me because I believe no one should have to suffer through anxiety or depression thinking they are alone. Mental health in general is very personal to me and I've watched it affect the people around me as well as myself. I truly believe the power of someone reaching out to help is still so underestimated and I want to make sure no one should have to feel like I once did. Z-Cares is doing a great job breaking the stigma of Mental Health issues and I'm so excited to be a part of what Z-Cares is doing."
Saradha Rajagopalan, Director of Administration
Saradha Rajagopalan, Director of Administration
Saradha Rajagopalan, Director of Administration
"Advocating for mental well-being and guiding friends and family based on my life experiences is something I have been involved for few years now. As a mother of teenagers, I could see how various things in current society affects our youth at home and at school. I believe adolescence is the right time to talk about feelings/emotions and
"Advocating for mental well-being and guiding friends and family based on my life experiences is something I have been involved for few years now. As a mother of teenagers, I could see how various things in current society affects our youth at home and at school. I believe adolescence is the right time to talk about feelings/emotions and learn self caring skills. I was excited when Z-Cares contacted me for administration role. Their goals aligned with my beliefs and I jumped right on to make use of my skills and provide administrative and technical support. "
Board Members
Allen Nimmo
Ken Nimmo, Youth Mental Health First Aider
Laurie Whiteland, Youth Mental Health First Aider
Liz Lyons-Wagner, Ed.D.
Margaret Ching, Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Natalie Hung, Youth Mental Health First Aider
Natalie McDaniel, Youth Mental Health First Aider
Noor Dharni
Saradha Rajagopalan
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.
Our Inspiration: Zachary Nimmo
Meet Zachary
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!