Wauconda High School

Executive Director - You've Got A Friend In Me! Robin (Giless) Pavlovich is a local Wauconda resident for 25 years. The day her son, Erich J. Giless, died by suicide changed her life forever. Robin has lived with the grief and stigma of suicide from that day on. In 2019, Robin and her husband Kelly, partnered with the Wauconda High Schools Future B... usiness Leaders of America (FBLA), The American Legion, and other members of the community to bring a suicide awareness and prevention walk to the community. The inaugural Live Today! You Matter! Suicide Awareness walk was held on a cold, drizzly day in September of 2019. With comfort dogs, mini-horses, 34 local business sponsors, and over 400 walkers in attendance, the walk was a huge success! In order to assure the continued success and growth of the Live Today! Because You Really Matter! mission, Robin and Kelly began this own organization to take over the walk. Robin and her husband Kelly are hoping to bring as much education and awareness to Wauconda and the surrounding communities because even one suicide is too many! Suzy has been a teacher for 28 years with a Bachelor degree in Special Education and a Master's degree in Gifted Education. Her passion has always been helping adolescents and families understand and cope with their social and emotional needs. She has taught in therapeutic day, juvenile detention, inner city, and public schools which has given her a vast amount of experience with students academically and social emotionally. Through educating students, families, schools, and communities, her mission is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide, opioid addiction, and mental health issues.Read More