Last week, Yorktown Football had the honor of welcoming Grace O’Connor, founder of the Dan O’Connor Foundation, for a powerful presentation with their athletes. During double sessions, Grace shared her brother Dan’s story and spoke openly about mental health and suicide awareness, reminding players that these challenges can touch anyone—even those we might never expect. She encouraged the athletes to carry Dan’s story forward by sharing it with at least two people, helping to spark meaningful conversations and spread awareness.
At Friday’s game, the team honored Dan’s memory with a special pre-game ceremony that included Grace joining for the coin toss. Afterward, an event was held to raise funds in support of the Dan O’Connor Foundation.
Proceeds from the evening will directly fuel the foundation’s mission. Grace plans to use these funds to award scholarships to members of the team, providing opportunities that support both their academic and personal growth.
This event was about so much more than football—it was about community, remembrance, and creating a lasting impact in the lives of student-athletes.
“The Dan O’Connor Foundation is a nonprofit I recently founded in honor of my brother Dan, who died by suicide in 2009. Our mission is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage well-being in schools.
This June, we hope to award our first scholarship to a graduating senior at Yorktown High School. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Brandon Trager, a varsity football coach who was also one of Dan’s close friends and teammates. It was Brandon who suggested hosting a football game in Dan’s honor, making this event especially meaningful.”
—Grace O’Connor
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