When Chris Baugh found out he’d won our latest sweepstakes and a $1,000 prize, his first thoughts weren’t about how he’d spend the money. They were about the story behind why he entered in the first place , a story rooted in loss, friendship, and a nonprofit called Stand for the Silent.
A Personal Connection
Chris shared that his connection to Stand for the Silent didn’t come from a distant place. A close friend of his lost a loved one to suicide, and watching that friend navigate the aftermath left a lasting impression on him. It’s the kind of loss that doesn’t stay contained to one family, it ripples outward, touching everyone who cares about them.
That experience is part of why the organization’s name stuck with him long after his friend’s difficult season had passed. But when asked what really drew him to Stand for the Silent, Chris was direct about it.
“The nonprofit spoke to me because I am against bullying,” he said.
What Stand for the Silent Does
Stand for the Silent began after the loss of Ty Field-Smalley, an 11-year-old whose death inspired the movement that has grown into a nationwide force against bullying and youth suicide. Since 2010, the organization has reached over 4.5 million students in more than 6,700 schools across the country and beyond.
The organization addresses school bullying and teen suicide through heartfelt presentations delivered at schools, churches, and community organizations, pairing hard facts with real, human stories. Its work includes signature school presentations led by co-founder Kirk Smalley, peer-led chapters that turn a single assembly into ongoing student-driven action, national and state scholarships recognizing courage and resilience, and classroom curricula and parent toolkits designed to extend the message beyond a single visit.
The goal, in the founder’s own words, is straightforward: end bullying and save lives.
Community Impact
Stand for the Silent’s reach goes well beyond assembly halls. By equipping students to recognize warning signs, speak up for peers who are struggling, and support one another, the organization helps build school cultures where kids feel less alone, and where the adults around them are better prepared to step in. For families like the one Chris’s friend belongs to, that kind of prevention work carries a weight that’s hard to put into words. It’s a reminder that a single conversation, a single presentation, or a single person willing to check in can change the course of someone’s life.
Paying It Forward
For Chris, winning the sweepstakes wasn’t just a stroke of luck, it became an opportunity to spotlight a cause he believes in and to give back closer to home. Rather than keeping the $1,000 prize for himself, Chris has decided to share it with his hardworking employees, a gesture that reflects the same spirit of looking out for others that drew him to Stand for the Silent in the first place.
He hopes his story encourages others to learn more about the organization, to speak out against bullying in their own communities, and to recognize that supporting the people around you , whether an employee, a friend, or a stranger, can make more of a difference than we often realize.
Congratulations to Chris Baugh on his win, and thank you for sharing a story that reminds all of us why community and connection matter.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.