THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE? WORRIED ABOUT SOMEONE? DON'T WAIT! CALL THE NATIONAL CRISIS HOTLINE - 988

The Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program's objective is to end the threat of suicide in Worcester County and beyond through a program of outreach and education.

The grief following a suicide is often more intense, more complex, and more difficult to come to terms with than grief following a loss to other causes.

In addition to several community organized events throughout the year; each month, the program hosts a support group meeting for those who have lost loved ones to suicide and who are having difficulty coming to terms with their grief.

Jesse R. Klump

In early 2009, the tragic death of Jesse Klump cast a pall over the entire community of Snow Hill, Maryland.  Jesse was a fine scholar, a gifted athlete and a natural leader.  Beyond his grades or his athletic achievement, Jesse had already demonstrated maturity beyond his years and had, by the strength of his character, inspired his peers (and some of us who are a lot older than his peers) to respect and emulate him.

Jesse remains the light that guides us through all of our missions. The Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program exists to help young people navigate the anguish and challenges of their young adult lives; to become what Jesse would have become, to achieve Jesse’s goal of making the world a better place through others.

Board of Directors

Kim A. Klump

President

Kim is a retired Licensed Environmental Health Specialist for the Worcester County government. She has trained as a facilitator for suicide grievers’ support groups and is a certified mentor for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Kim hosts the monthly suicide grievers' support group and is a certified personal grief counselor.
Kathy Bassett

Vice President
Ed Tudor

Treasurer

Stacey Norton

Recording Secretary
Ronald W. Pilling

Corresponding Secretary

Donna Gleckler

Outreach Coordinator

Board Members

• Tiffany Barry
• Donna Black
• Leah Klump
• Jennifer Rice

The Jesse Klump Memorial Fund welcomes those who wish to join us in our mission of teaching suicide prevention skills and enhancing access to mental health care. If you find commonality with our work, ask about volunteering or serving on our Board of Directors.

The Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program is a program of the Jesse Klump Memorial Fund, Inc. The Fund was created in March, 2009 following the tragic loss to suicide of Jesse Klump, a promising Snow Hill High School senior.

“I wanted to do something Jesse would approve of”, his mother Kim Klump said. The community responded with an outpouring of love and compassion and it became obvious that the original mission, providing scholarship aid to young people who, like Jesse, had demonstrated a passion for service and altruism, had struck a common chord.

By 2011, the mission had expanded to fill an unmet need in our Maryland Eastern Shore communities: a youth suicide prevention outreach and education program.  Our main focus is still preventing youth suicide, by teaching young people skills to cope with modern stress (such as bullying, peer pressure, grade pressure). In the years since 2009 we have found ourselves addressing suicide across all demographics. Since some of our citizens find themselves in occupations or situations that exacerbate their suicide risk (1st responders and farm families, for example) we create targeted programs to reach those folks.

Those loved ones left behind after a suicide find themselves engulfed in grief that the rest of us cannot fathom.  Kim Klump, Jesse's Mom, President and a founding Board Member, launched monthly post-suicide grievers' support group in early 2011.  Hundreds of people have met others struggling with the same in the meetings, and have found ways to peace with their loss. In 2024 this work was strengthened by the creation of a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team which reaches those left behind promptly and with compassion.

The JKMF also provides financial aid to healthcare providers, counselors and educators who wish to continue their educations and bring their new skills back to those is our area that need them.

May 2009 - The first Jesse Klump Memorial Scholar was chosen.

July 2009 - The JKMF obtained 501(c)3 non-profit status.

August 2009 - The first fundraiser, Jesse’s Paddle, was held in August with over 100 guests.

August 2010 - The Board of Directors began conversations about establishing a youth suicide awareness and prevention program for Worcester County, a county with historically high rates of suicide. 

Early 2011 - The first monthly suicide grievers' support group meeting was convened.

September 2011 - The Fund launched the Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program and the first Outreach Coordinator joined us.

2012 - The Fund began sponsoring Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) for educators, healthcare professionals and interested private citizens. 

2013 - Our first suicide prevention website was launched. 

2014 - The Jesse Klump Memorial Fund sponsored the first Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Ocean City.

2015 - SOS! Signs of Suicide was introduced in every public middle school health class.

2016 - The Suicide Prevention Coalition of the Lower Eastern Shore convened, creating a partnership of over 20 agencies.

2017 - The start of a grant program to fund educators' and heath care workers' attendance to conferences, classes and workshops.

2017 -  The JKMF introduced STOP!T to students at Stephen Decatur Middle School. STOP!T is an anonymous bullying reporting app.

2018 - Save a Shore Farmer launched to address the unusually high rates of suicide in farm families.

2018 - The 10th annual Jesse's Paddle drew a record crowd.

2018 -  The100th survivors' support group met, having served over 100 post-suicide grievers.

2019 - Weekly e-newsletters started, going to 700+ subscribers. 

2020 -  We reached the 500th tabling event at which we have exhibited.

2023 - The JKMF's first grant program with Salisbury University funded Masters' Degree work for a social work student.

2024 -  The JKMF launched the Lower Eastern Shore's first Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team.