NATCHEZ — Y’all Means All — Natchez, a local non-profit organization founded earlier this year, raised approximately $30,000 for suicide prevention services during recent fundraising events, organizers said.

On Monday, Y’all Means All representatives presented a check for $10,000 Southwest Mississippi Mental Health Services — also called Clear Path.

John Grady Burns, one of the founders of Y’all Means All Natchez said the non-profit group LGBT+ members and friends received community-wide support during various fundraisers and especially during “The Weekend Battle of the Belles” event in October.

“We’re thrilled to say that Natchez and the Miss-Lou helped us raise $30,000,” Burns said. “… The Battle of the Belles was by far the biggest and most successful event. It was very heartwarming to be there that night, right after the unveiling of the Proud to Take a Stand Monument. It was a wonderful day and a great experience and we at Y’all Means All just want to say thank you to the community for your overwhelming support.”

Burns said the first and primary mission of Y’all Means All is to improve emotional well-being in the South, and the first check, presented Monday to a licensed counseling service aims to do just that, he said.

“We are partnering with Southwest Mental Health/Clear Path to provide professional counseling services to the area,” Burns said.

Burns said a second gift of $10,000 or more would be used to host training and seminars on suicide prevention and mental wholeness in Natchez for those who wish to attend statewide.

Any funds leftover would help further Y’all Means All’s efforts, Burns said.

“We plan for these efforts to be ongoing, so we want people to be on the lookout on social media for things Y’all Means All will be doing next year,” he said. “One of those will be the GAY-rage sale in the spring and the Battle of the Belles in the fall. … Those two were our biggest events, and we’ve had a few smaller things here and there. Last year was our first year and we’ve been getting our feet wet. It can only get bigger and better each year going forward.”

Burns said all contributions to Y’all Means All are tax deductible.

Checks can made out to Y’all Means All — Natchez and delivered to the Nest at 505 Franklin Street, Burns said.