Honoring Mental Health Advocacy

This year marks the debut of the "Create Resilience" Champion Award, honoring a youth who has entered the "Create Resilience" Youth Art Contest for Suicide Prevention more than once and has shown continued dedication and growth as a mental health advocate. The selected youth's school receives $300 for mental health-promoting activities, developed in collaboration with that youth.

Perezia Foli has been selected for her passion and initiative — most notably, her collaboration with both Fowler Middle School and Tigard High School, each of which received $250 for mental health-promoting activities through an earlier "Create Resilience" award. Her entry for this year's 2026 contest, submitted as both artwork and video, stands out for its creativity and humanity.

Perezia's school, Tigard High School, will receive $300 for mental health-promoting initiatives, and Perezia will play an active role in deciding how these funds are used.