Big Five – FeedMay 16 took on a different meaning for me in 2004. Until then, it was simply my father’s birthday. But that year, it became something more, something lasting. It became a tradition rooted in the values of our founder, a man whose life was guided by a single, unwavering purpose: to serve others without expectation.
What began as a personal moment has grown into a collective one. Each year on this day, we organize a movement across the many destinations we call home—a coming together of our teams, our partners, and our extended community. Last year, on what we now call Mahen’s Day of Service, we helped feed more than 2,000 people in just three hours, across 10 countries. It was powerful not because of the numbers, but because of what it represented: shared intention, shared action, and a reminder that impact doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to begin.
This year, our focus turns to something deeply needed and often quietly carried—children’s mental health.
We are proud to be spending the day with Tykes & Teens Children’s Mental Health in Stuart, Florida, an organization doing vital, hands-on work for young people in our community. For over three decades, they have provided affordable, high-quality behavioral and mental health services for infants, children, and adolescents across Florida’s Treasure Coast. Their approach is rooted in trauma-informed care, meeting each child where they are, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. It’s the kind of work that changes lives in ways you don’t always see, but always feel.
Beyond Florida, this effort reached far and wide. Teams in 12 countries committed to supporting projects within their own communities, all centered on youth mental health. Different places, different approaches, but one common thread: showing up when it matters. Mahen always said, “You cannot clap with one hand.”
While 12 countries joined us on May 16, the truth is this was never about a single day. The opportunity to serve isn’t confined to a date on the calendar.
I encourage you to explore the Tykes and Teens website to see their mission in action, or donate browse their Amazon Wishlist to see how you can make a difference.
We invite you to be part of it, wherever you are. Find a children’s mental health cause near you. Give your time. Lend your voice.
Show up in whatever way you can, today or any day.
