Est. 2022 · Tampa, Florida
The Jacob
Ari Kamis
Foundation
“Do you need a hug?”
Jacob saw the world through a lens of love. He traveled with a camera in hand, collecting moments — and if he sensed someone near him was hurting, he would walk right up and ask. We lost him on May 4, 2022. He was 16 years old.
“Whatever you are carrying — we are here.”
Jacob Ari Kamis · 2006–2022
1 in 3
Youth with mental health conditions
988
Crisis lifeline · Call or text
2026
Through Their Lens Exhibit
Our Mission
Empowering teens through
awareness, art & connection
The Jacob Ari Kamis Foundation empowers teens and young adults through mental health awareness, peer support, and the healing power of art — in honor of a boy who saw the world through a lens of love and always stopped to ask if you needed a hug.
See
Every young person deserves to be truly seen — their pain, their beauty, their story.
Connect
Peer connection and community dissolve the isolation that makes hardship unbearable.
Heal
Through art, conversation, and professional support — healing is possible for everyone.
What We DO
Our Programs
From photography contests to community advocacy, everything we do is rooted in the belief that creativity is courage and connection saves lives.
Awareness & Education
Bringing mental health conversations into schools, homes, and communities across Florida, removing stigma one conversation at a time. Through workshops, speaker series, and outreach programs, we empower teens, young adults, and the families who support them.
Peer Support
Training teens and young adults to show up for one another, because sometimes the most powerful thing one person can do is simply ask, "Do you need a hug?" Our peer support programs build communities where no one has to carry their weight alone.
You Are Not Alone
Connecting young people with resources, support, and a community that sees them — because no one should carry their weight in silence. 988 · Crisis Text Line · NAMI Helpline.
Get Help Now
You Are Not Alone
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available right now. You don’t have to carry this alone.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or Text 988
Free, confidential support for people in distress. Available 24/7 from anywhere in the US.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Free 24/7 crisis support via text message. Connect with a trained crisis counselor from anywhere.
NAMI Helpline
1-800-950-6264
National Alliance on Mental Illness. Free information, referrals, and support for individuals and families.
Talk to Someone You Trust
“I’m not okay.”
A parent. A teacher. A friend. Sometimes the most powerful thing is telling one person you trust that you need help.