KLB Foundation Inc.
KLB Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization created to honor the life of Kyle Louis Brookens, serving to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
KLB Foundation Inc. 501(c)(3) envisions to raise up, support and empower young advocates for mental health awareness and suicide prevention in communities of color.
Be strong, be courageous, all you that hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:24).
In October of 2017, we lost our Kyle, who was 21 years old. He was a loving, intelligent, industrious, and humorous young man. It has been a tough road. We were crushed but by the grace of God, not broken. Our family has come together to form the KLB Foundation Inc. 501(C)(3) No one should suffer in silence; suicide prevention begins with openness. Through the Foundation, we have awarded multiple scholarships to High School scholar-athletes in NJ and Washington, DC since 2022. They will in turn be ambassadors for mental health awareness. We hope to expand our reach through scholarships, participation in mental health educational programs, and giving to organizations impacting mental health/suicide prevention in communities of color. If you know someone who needs support, please review resources on the website or call 988 (from any phone).
At Plainfield High School, we awarded Armando Avril, who is headed to Lincoln University, and Alijah Burnett, who is attending Widener University in the fall. Both will continue their journey as scholar-athletes playing football at their respected universities. Armando will major in Criminal Justice and Alijah will be studying business administration.
This year we continued our partnership with KIPP College Preparatory in Washington, D.C., Our winners are Mekhi Coleman-Curry, KCP Football and Track Athlete, who will attend East Carolina University, and Jerry Dunlap, track and field captain, who is headed to Tuskegee University. Jerry will study business administration and Mekhi is on the pre-dental track.
From Plainfield High School, Elio Marroquin Enriques, a leader on the soccer field will continue his education and pursue a career in Nursing.
This year we expanded our scholarships to 2 young men from KIPP College Preparatory in Washington, D.C., Our winners are Caleb Mercer, Basketball MVP, who will attend Virginia State University, and Dhani Young, track and field captain, who is headed to Bowie State University.
We will also provide book scholarships for the 2022 winners Eduardo Vidal-Lopez and Christian Sumpang who are headed into their sophomore years of college.
