No Blank Faces Mental Health Initiative

No Blank Faces Mental Health Initiative

Based out of Orange County. This is an initiative to grow awareness for mental health, show people that they are not alone in their battle, show them that there are people that love them, provide resources for people to seek and get help, and to show them that there is a God that is never going to leave them. 

Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

My story: 

My Name is Sam Brooks. I have grown up in Orange County my whole life. Playing sports like soccer and enjoying life to the best of my ability. My experiences haven't always been the easiest. On March 22, 2008 I wouldn’t know it at that time but my life would change forever. My family and I were going to go on a weekend getaway for easter. Full of laughs and love. My sister, my mom, and I got into the car and my dad got onto his motorcycle. As usual being a seven year old kid and my sister being 9 at the time we were watching a movie. Going down road my moms face became flush, and she started to cry. I didn’t know what was going on and I called out to my mom, but there were no answers. Next thing I know we are in a small waiting room at the hospital. My dad was gone. He had gotten into a motorcycle accident and hadn't made it through. For me that would be the worst day of my life. Thats the thing about death. They’re never coming back. No more birthday surprises, no more sleeping on his lap, no more hearing “I’m proud”, or going to go get watermelon ice cream anymore. A hole that never seems to go away. But thank God thats not the end of my story. For me I had the friends and family around me to get through these difficult times. Coaches, teachers, father figures, and people in my life that cared about me more than anything. They created a person that I am proud of and the opportunity for me to not shy away from adversity, but to stand tall in it. For many other people in this world that isn't the case. For people in my family and all of the world mental illness is a large part of their lives. They fight it not knowing if they are going to see the other side. I wanted to make a change for people to have support for them.

Art pieces: 

The art pieces are all based off the simple idea that people hide from being their true selves. All the pieces are faces of people wearing masks. People can't truly be themselves when they are battling issues like depression, anxiety, or any other mental health issues. They become imposters of a person that they once were. They are showing their own blank faces. For me that is one of the worst things you can go through. Living through your life not being able to show the amazing person that under the mask. 

For anyone that donates more 60 dollars or more I will send you any of the artworks that you want. Go to the instagram page linked on this site. For the prints you can pick from any of the different combinations that I have made and I will print you your own individual art piece. For the other artworks those are 1/1 and I can't duplicate them. Email me at Samuel.allen.brooks@gmail.com and I tell me which art you want and we will figure out how to get you the art as quickly as possible. 

Why I am donating the profits to Foundation for Grieving Children: 

For me it aligned perfectly with the idea I was trying to get at. For me being someone that lost his father at a very young age I wasn't able to comprehend what was going on around me. I didn't understand the grieving process for the people around me or for myself. I couldn't help and I felt weak in my own mind. I don't want any other child to go through the many years that I had to endure in trying to figure everything out. I want them to get the resources they need and have people around them to help them through these tough times.