Coalition To Empower Our Future Launches New Ad: Donny

Spot Features After-School All-Stars Leader Speaking About the Importance of Finding a Comprehensive Solution to the Youth Mental Health Challenge

For Immediate Release
August 5, 2025
Contact: [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Coalition to Empower our Future, a growing coalition that aims to convene a comprehensive conversation on the multifaceted and complex factors contributing to the state of youth mental health, today launched its latest ad, “Donny.”

The spot highlights the importance of working together with parents and students to address the difficult challenges today’s youth are facing. It features Donny Fa’aliliu, senior vice president of leadership and community outreach at After-School All-Stars, a national nonprofit that provides after-school and summer programs to keep students safe and help them succeed in school and life. Donny emphasizes the need for a comprehensive conversation to address the many factors contributing to the state of youth mental health and wellbeing. After-School All-Stars is a member of the Coalition to Empower our Future.

“Parents, educators and young people themselves are telling us that youth wellbeing is an urgent challenge we cannot ignore,” said Glen Weiner, executive director of the Coalition to Empower our Future. “With so many complex factors contributing to the state of youth mental health, it’s crucial that we listen to young people themselves to understand their needs and identify meaningful solutions. That’s why programs, such as After-School All-Stars, are so important for connecting students with trusted mentors who care deeply and empowering parents with the resources they need to support their kids.”

Watch “Donny” here.

Script:

I’ve been a leader at After-School All-Stars for 21 years.

By working with kids every day, I’ve seen the complexity of youth mental health firsthand.

Economic anxiety, kids falling behind in school, overuse of devices…

There are many contributing factors that all deserve our attention.

To ensure students reach their full potential, we should listen to them and empower their parents with every resource they need.

Youth mental health is a difficult challenge. It needs a comprehensive solution.

About the Coalition to Empower our Future

Coalition to Empower our Future is a newly formed organization bringing together a range of voices to fully inform solutions that empower youth, parents, communities and society. The Coalition to Empower our Future supports solutions that are inclusive of the full spectrum of factors impacting youth mental health. Former Montana Governor Steve Bullock, former assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Family Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services January Contreras, and former U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo serve on the board of directors of the Coalition to Empower our Future. Dr. Caroline Carney, a board-certified psychiatrist and internist, is a health executive and clinician who serves as an expert advisor to the coalition.

To learn more, visit empowerourfuturecoalition.com or follow Coalition to Empower our Future on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

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