(Tampa, Florida) – Suicide is a leading cause of death among people ages 15-24 and touches the lives of millions of people, including team members from PulteGroup’s West Florida Division, who recently raised $4,580 to assist suicide prevention efforts.
Several PulteGroup team members have been personally impacted by suicide, including General Sales Manager, Cheryl Brown, whose 16-year-old daughter, McKenna, died by suicide in August 2022 and Closing Coordinator Brianna Riscossa, whose older sister, Deanna, died by suicide three years ago.
A 55-member PulteGroup team took part in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) annual Tampa Bay Out of the Darkness Community Walk held at Al Lopez on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
Brianna serves on the Tampa walk organizing committee, and she and her family have helped raise close to $15,000 over the last four years to celebrate her sister’s life.
“Our West Florida Division not only wanted to show support for our fellow team members and honor the loved ones they have lost to suicide, but we also wanted to be a part of the solution,” said Sean Strickler, West Florida Division President. “The grieving process never really stops, but the money raised through the walk and our sponsorship will help create awareness and support survivors of suicide loss.”
The PulteGroup team honored McKenna Brown by wearing shirts with her hockey number. McKenna was a standout ice hockey player who died just days before the start of her senior year at East Lake High School after being cyberbullied.
“We miss our daughter every day,” said Cheryl Brown. “I’m grateful for PulteGroup’s support because events like this walk help save lives and spread hope. While we know McKenna is watching over us, our goal is to raise awareness of the warning signs so that no other family has to go through so much pain.”
To that end, PulteGroup West Florida Division members will take part in one of AFSP’s upcoming lunch and learn events to better recognize the warning signs of suicide. Counseling is also available to team members through PulteGroup’s Employee Assistance Program.
About PulteGroup
PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of America’s largest homebuilding companies with operations in more than 40 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West, the company is one of the industry’s most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide homebuyers with innovative solutions and consumer-inspired homes and communities to make lives better. For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroup.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com; www.divosta.com; www.jwhomes.com; and www.americanwesthomes.com. Follow PulteGroup, Inc. on Twitter: @PulteGroupNews.
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