York College grad, TV personality Zac Clark to visit alma mater on April 26 as part of 'Keep Going' college tour marking mental health awareness month

• Release Recovery Team to Visit Locations From April 25-30 Near College Campuses of  University of Delaware, York College, James Madison University, University of Maryland, Rutgers and University of Pennsylvania to Raise Awareness for Mental Health, Suicide and Addiction Issues - 
• Release Recovery Foundation to Create College Scholarship to Help Provide Funding for Students Seeking Treatment for Addiction Recovery and Mental Illness - 

Editor’s note: Zac Clark will stop at his alma mater, York College of Pennsylvania, on April 26. His visit will start with a run at 10 a.m. from the track at the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center.

 

Release Recovery, a New York-based addiction and mental health recovery program created by mental health and addiction recovery advocate Zac Clark, today announced its nonprofit,  Release Recovery Foundation, will launch an inaugural “Keep Going” college tour from Monday, April 25 to Saturday, April 30 ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month. The tour will consist of community gatherings at locations near six surrounding college campuses in six days to raise awareness around mental health, suicide and addiction issues among college students in America.

With suicide being the second leading cause of death among young adults and 46% reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety during their college years*, Release Recovery Foundation saw an opportunity to help raise awareness and break the stigma around seeking help for these issues through meaningful conversations, shared experiences, walking and running.  The “Keep Going” college tour aims to educate students on the resources available to them and provide personal insights on the benefits of leading a sober living lifestyle. 

“During the past few years, we’ve seen firsthand how the daily stressors of college life can impact the mental health of students nationwide,” said Clark. “The pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges, which has made me more compelled than ever to reach them at a pivotal time in their lives while many struggle with depression, addiction and suicide, among other mental health issues. My hope is that the “Keep Going” tour will build on my decade-long work to raise awareness around these topics and help students find the support and resources they need to continue their fight.”

Each event stop will begin between 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.  ET at the designated locations, where students and members of the community will have the opportunity to hear brief  remarks from Clark on the current mental health crisis college campuses are facing today and the desperate shortage of behavioral healthcare professionals nationwide. Additionally, he will share a testimonial on his 10 years of sobriety, personal victories overcoming mental health issues and addiction, and the importance of building a community of salient peer support. Following the opening, Clark and the Release Recovery team will lead a short run/walk with participants in the area. The events will conclude with panels featuring mental health experts and advocates from each of the local colleges to add to the discussions and provide resources to the students. The "Keep Going" tour is open for all students and community members to participate.

As part of the tour, Release Recovery Foundation is raising money for its newly created college scholarship, which will provide funding for students seeking treatment for addiction recovery and mental illness. Release Recovery provides inpatient treatment centers, interventionists, outpatient treatment centers, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and recovery coaches. Donations for the Release Recovery Foundation college scholarship fund can be made at releaserecoveryfoundation.org/#donate in honor of “Keep Going”.

Additional tour details and meetup locations can be found at @ReleaseRecoveryFoundation and @ZWClark.

About Release Recovery

Release Recovery is a New York-based addiction and mental health treatment center that helps clients build a strong foundation in early recovery through individualized programs of intensive support and supervision. The program provides  24/7 supervision in the first month of residency and offers full, structured days of volunteer work, recovery meetings and group activities. The 4-Tier recovery program helps clients learn to nurture their recoveries, gain the skills to pursue their ambitions, explore healthy and productive outlets for self-growth and practice sustainable self-sufficiency. The customizable recovery plans include Recovery Coaching, Sober Companion, Case Management, Safe Transport and Intervention services. Release Recovery has three housing locations around NYC with two dedicated houses for clients identifying as men and one for clients identifying as women. 

About Release Foundation

Release Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides scholarships for treatment to those who cannot afford it. The foundation provides evaluations from recovery experts to determine the level of financial assistance required and the willingness of the individual to comply with all clinical recommendations. The recovery experts handle all funding and care coordination that are unique to the scholarship recipients’ needs. Created in 2020, the Release Recovery Foundation has been able to fund the treatment of over 35 individuals and has raised more than $1 million. Additionally, Release Recovery Foundation has created scholarships specifically for the LGBTQ+ community, minorities, college students and women.