Who We Are
The How to Save A Life Foundation supports organizations, programs, and spaces at the front lines of the adolescent mental health crisis.
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The How to Save a Life Foundation responds to the adolescent mental health crisis. Grounded in the belief that no one should face their challenges alone, we build awareness and fund the care and support needed to transform young lives.
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The How to Save a Life Foundation envisions a world where young people experiencing mental health challenges have somewhere to turn — even when they feel most disconnected. We seek to become a trusted resource for adolescents and their advocates as they navigate an increasingly complex world.
We are a place where people are defined not by the highs and lows of life, but by their walk toward healing, imagination, and the unique role they play in community with others. The events and tools we provide are designed to be more than a catalyst for support — they are a home for true and lasting connection.
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We value the power and simplicity of connection.
In a country where 40% of high schoolers report persistent hopelessness and 18% have experienced major depression, connection is our core value. Research confirms what we believe: community is one of the most powerful tools in the fight against the adolescent mental health crisis.
Our flagship activations — the Save A Life Summit, Annual Gala, benefit concerts, and events across the country — are fueled by a single purpose: not only to support individuals who are struggling, but to build a community that can carry one another.
Our Story
The How to Save a Life Foundation was established by The Fray’s Joe King in response to the adolescent mental health crisis — a crisis that has only grown in severity since Joe first explored its personal impact in the song “How to Save a Life” more than twenty years ago.
Since then, Joe has heard thousands of stories from fans whose own experiences are reflected in that song. This foundation is his response — a way of turning fans’ connection to the song into action, transforming two decades of comment sections into rooms full of real people, and equipping generations with the tools to live lives of meaning, purpose, and connection.