Walk With Happy Jack 79, Astro’s José Abreu’s Team for NAMIWalks Greater Houston

Astro’s first baseman José Abreu joins the ranks of professional athletes supporting and standing in the gap to bring awareness and understanding to youth mental health.

Beginning today, in observance of Mental Health Month, Abreu invites children and youth in kindergarten through 12th grades and their families to join and walk with Abreu’s NAMIWalks team, Happy Jack 79 on May 20th at 8:00 am at Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston (1100 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002). Abreu will open the day with a ribbon cutting to officially start the walk.

All children, young people and family members registered individually as walkers on team Happy Jack 79 will receive one free commemorative Happy Jack 79 t-shirt autographed by Abreu at NAMIWalks Greater Houston. The team Happy Jack 79 t-shirt distribution booth opens on location at NAMIWalks at 7:30 am. You MUST BE PRESENT to receive a shirt. They will be distributed on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. To register for team Happy Jack 79 visit https://www.namiwalks.org/team/HappyJack79/.

“All of us have days where we wake up with a crooked smile, and that is okay,” stated Abreu at a recent press conference announcing his commitment to youth mental health awareness and partnership with the Astros Foundation, NAMI Greater Houston, and Happy Jack. “Young people are coping with their mental health at various levels and for various reasons, and NAMIWalks Greater Houston is a beautiful and impactful event to raise awareness about the importance of mental health. Together we can share with youth that it’s okay, not being okay and we can open the door to real solutions,” said Abreu.

“Mental health concerns affect 1 in 5 young people, but two-thirds of those who need treatment do not have access to it. Lack of access to supports can have a serious and lasting impact across all areas of a child’s life,” said Angelina Brown-Hudson, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Houston. “We are appreciative of our partnership with Jose Abreu, the Astros Foundation, and Happy Jack and look forward to the

supportive efforts that we can make together to help eliminate the stigma of mental illness and a young person’s needless suffering.”

Now in its 18th year, NAMIWalks Greater Houston is the area's largest grassroots, mental health awareness and fundraising event held during Mental Health Month. The Astros will share further information on other mental health initiatives that Abreu and the Astros Foundation will take on throughout the year, including Mental Health Awareness Day at the Astros game on May 20th.

For questions about registration for team Happy Jack 79, contact NAMIWalks at 713-970-4464 or walk@namigreaterhouston.org/.

Media Contact: Traci D. Patterson, Advocacy, Marketing and Communications, NAMI Greater Houston, 832-861-6171, tpatterson@namigreaterhouston.org

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ABOUT NAMI GREATER HOUSTON

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, we are an alliance of more than 600 local Affiliates and 49 State Organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education previously unavailable to those in need. www.namigreaterhouston.org/

ABOUT HAPPY JACK
Happy Jack is Jack Nathan. Jack created HappyJacksWorld to raise awareness and fund access to mental health resources. 15% of each HJ sale is donated. Jack wrestled with anxiety and depression - he simply wanted to help other kids know that they were not alone. Jack left us suddenly and accidentally on 7/3/20 at the age of 19, due to fentanyl poisoning. He was a survivor of mental illness- not a victim. Together we can make life better for kids like Jack. Please help us keep Jack’s legacy and mission alive.

ABOUT THE ASTROS FOUNDATION
The Astros Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) team charity of the Houston Astros, seeks to harness the passion of baseball fans to support youth baseball and softball programs, the recognition and honor of our nation’s military, childhood cancer awareness and efforts to reduce homelessness. Our cornerstone initiatives include the Community Leaders program, the Astros Youth Academy and the Astros RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program. For more information on the Astros Foundation, please visit www.astros.com/foundation.