Christy Buck is the Executive Director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. With more than 33 years of experience in the mental health field, Buck’s passion for transforming and saving lives through mental health education led her to develop two classroom programs, ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ for middle and high school students, and ‘be nice.’ Since 2006, she and her staff have passionately presented to over 200,000 people in West Michigan on mental health awareness, bullying and suicide prevention. Buck regularly delivers speaking engagements to community and business groups on mental health awareness. She is certified in Question Persuade and Refer and Mental Health First Aid, which she has been recognized as one of the top 100 in the country.

Christy serves on the Grandville School Board and is involved with numerous community organizations and coalitions. Most recent honors include 2017 American Red Cross Hometown, 2017 Athena Finalist, 2017 Art Van Charity of Hope Award, 2018 50 Most Influential Women In West Michigan, 2019 Daughters of the American Revolution Women In History and most recently finalist for Brilliance Award Woman of the Year.

Christy enjoys spending time with her family - hubby Tim, and kids - Demetrios, Katerina, Isabella and granddog, Riggins and the community of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church! She is a proud graduate of Michigan State University.

Kandice works closely with schools on implementing and delivering our education programs: be nice. and be nice. extension. In addition, she serves as an Instructor for Mental Health First Aid and helps plan the MHF’s Annual Stomp Out Stigma Walk and Shining Through Art Show and Auction. Kandice graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2007 and received her Masters in Social Work from Western Michigan University in 2013. Kandice lives in Hudsonville with her husband, Patrick, and 2 daughters, Adeline and Blakely. Kandice protects her mental health by walking her golden retriever Rosie, spending time with family, shopping, and binge-watching tv shows with her husband.

Jessica started working for the Foundation in 2016. She is responsible for all things communications. She manages the website, handles the social media accounts and media presence, writes those jazzy newsletters our subscribers love, and creates compelling content to support the MHF's programs. She also assists in the coordination of the smaller community-curated fundraisers and seeks out community partnerships to promote the be nice. education program. She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a degree in communications and a background in journalism and broadcasting. Jess protects her mental health by being outside and she always has a book she’s reading. She's hiked 365 miles along the Appalachian Trail, trekked deep into the Grand Canyon, topped mountain peaks of the Canadian Rockies, spent four days traversing the Dolomite Mountains of Italy, hiked her then six-month-old baby boy to see the 360° view atop Cloud's Rest in Yosemite Nat'l Park and most recently hiked her 6-week-old baby girl into the clouds of the Smoky Mountains to take in the views of Chimney Top Mountain.

Rachael grew up with the be nice. program and was a part of the be nice. Leadership Group at Grandville High School for four years. She then attended Hope College where she studied business with a background in psychology and neuroscience, and also played Women’s Soccer. As a student-athlete, Rachael had her own struggles with mental health and became a survivor of suicide in 2018. Her personal understanding and passion for mental health awareness and suicide prevention in young athletes is what brought her to a position with the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan as a Program Coordinator, working with the be nice. School and Team programs. Rachael protects her mental health by playing rec soccer and volleyball, enjoying a good meal with a friend, and playing with her dog Tucker.

Mary began working in the mental health environment in 2012 at Network180 as an Accounting Clerk after being a stay at home mom for many years. During those years she volunteered in a variety of ways at her children's school, dance studio and other fundraising events. In 2017, she started at the Foundation as a volunteer organizing apparel. Now, she is responsible for the bookkeeping. She and her husband John have two children, Erin and Steven. She enjoys keeping the Foundation staff supplied in sweets, and chilling by the lake with family and friends and a good book!

I have been involved in the be nice. program in 2017 and 2018. I also enjoy helping people with their mental health. I protect my mental health by bowling and hanging out with my family and friends.