News & Events
2024 Programming & Events
2024 Scholarship Awards
March 2024
The Be a Light Foundation will provide 14 college scholarships and 10 trade school scholarships to high school graduates and young adults. Deadline to apply is March 31, 2024.
Applications are now closed
Mental Health Month Sessions
May 2024
Three-part series virtual workshop with guest speakers featuring a discussion about the importance of mental health awareness and wellness in children, teens, and young adults. Discuss ways to prevent negative outburst amongst our target audience.
Grad Bash - East Altamonte
June 2024
Annual graduation celebration for graduates in the East Altamonte area who graduate from Pre-Kindergarten, High School, and College.
Basketball Camp - Altamonte Springs, FL
July 30, 2024
Youth basketball camp for boys & girls, grades 1 to 8, at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs
Financial Literacy Week
August 2024
Through partnerships with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland and Orlando, Be a Light will provide financial literacy seminars and info to local area students.
Basketball Camp - Portland, OR
August 10-11, 2024
Youth basketball camp for boys & girls, grades 1 to 8, at the Beaverton Family YMCA
Backpack Drive - Central Florida
August 2024
Provide backpacks for elementary, middle, and high school students in Central Florida.
Backpack Drive - Portland Area
August 2024
Partnership with the Boys and Girls club to provide supplies for back to school.
Inaugural Top Golf Invitational
August 28, 2024
Golf Tournament to benefit the Be a Light Foundation.
View FlyerTutoring Grant
October 2024
We’ve awarded $37,500 in tutoring grants, supporting students in their educational journey.
Turkey Drive - Altamonte Springs, FL
November 23, 2024
Provide 250 turkeys to families in the East Altamonte area and $250 gift cards.
View FlyerTurkey Dinners - Portland, OR
November 2024
Provide 200-300 turkeys to families in the Portland community.
Coming SoonPOIC Turkey Dinners - Portland, OR
November 2024
Provide full meals to teen parents in Portland, OR.
Coming SoonChristmas in Portland, OR
December 2024
Partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Portland.
Coming SoonCollege Care Packages
TBD
Assisting college students from margalized communities + first generation college students through provision of care packages.
Coming Soon
Grad Bash
June 17th, 2023
Winwood Park, Altamonte Springs FL
Celebrating the East Altamonte Graduates from Pre-K, K, High School, College and Trade Programs
East Altamonte Backpack Drive
July 15th, 2023
Boys and Girls Club of East Altamonte
Join us in our effort to provide backpacks for the community. We have provided over 1250 backpacks to students in Central Florida and Portland Oregon.
Past Events
Mental Health Town Hall
May 20, 2023 | 7:00 PM EST
For May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Be A Light Inc wants to provide young teens with the opportunity to learn from mental health professionals. In this virtual town hall students will learn about mental health and hear about tactics and resources in reducing anxiety, handling stress, working with others, and healthy decision making. Students will even have the chance to ask questions and get answers from experts. We want to help teens and parents to learn how to identify mental health challenges, provide resources and tools to assist and how to deal with those who are struggling with their mental health.
Some Interesting Stats
It is estimated that 3.6% of 10-14 year-olds and 4.6% of 15-19 year-olds experience an anxiety disorder. Depression is estimated to occur among 1.1% of adolescents aged 10-14 years, and 2.8% of 15-19-year-olds. Depression and anxiety share some of the same symptoms, including rapid and unexpected changes in mood. According to adolescent wellness academy 50% of lifetime cases of mental illness begin at 14 years of age.
- Cases of major depression among teens ages sixteen and seventeen rose by an overwhelming 69%.
- Feelings of anxiety and hopelessness increased by 71% among people ages seventeen to twenty-five.
- One out of five girls ages twelve to seventeen had experienced major depression within the last year.
- Between 2008 and 2017, the suicide rate among teens ages eighteen to nineteen increased by 56%.
We have three amazing guest speakers that work in the mental health field.
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Dr. Thurman E Webb Jr.
Serves as coordinator and provides instruction for the Professional school counseling program within the Department of Psychological Science and Counseling at Tennessee State University. He is also the lead instructor for the course Psychology of the Black Experience. Dr. Webb is an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, a Licensed Professional Counselor Mental Health Service Provider, and Mental Performance Coach.
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Dr. Harifah Hendrickson
A Clinical Psychologist, who is currently serving as a Captain in the United States Air Force stationed in California where she is one of two clinical psychologists within the Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Air Mobility Command. Dr. Hendrickson is a native of Maryland, she earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Tennessee State University in 2022. Prior to, she completed her master’s in psychology at Tennessee State University in 2018, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oakwood University in 2015.
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Dr. Henry L. Benton III
Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Henry received his BA in Psychology from Ashland University, where he attended on a football scholarship, his MS as well as PhD in Counseling Psychology from Tennessee State University. His therapeutic work focuses on the mental health and well-being of college athletes.
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Contact
PO Box 161328
Altamonte Springs, Fl 32714-9998
