Mauri 4 The Win plans teen wellness bash in Allendale County

Dr. Ladovia Washington is bringing Mauri 4 The Win back to Denmark with a message that is part remembrance, part prevention and part urgent community care. The 4th Annual Teen & Community Wellness Bash is set for June 20 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Denmark Gazebo, 4746 Carolina Hwy., and Washington says the goal is to give teens and families a place to find support before a crisis deepens.

The event is built around the memory of Washington’s son, Jha’Mauri McCreary, who died by suicide on March 10, 2022, at age 15. Obituary records identify him as Jha’Mauri Montrell McCreary, born June 23, 2006. Washington launched Mauri 4 The Win in his honor, and the nonprofit now focuses on teen mental health, suicide prevention, healing and crisis intervention through community outreach and expressive support.

That mission reflects a need that is painfully visible in South Carolina. The state Department of Public Health reported 141 youth suicides in 2021 and said youth suicide rates rose 32.2% over the previous 10 years. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has described adolescent mental health as a worsening crisis that was already heading in the wrong direction before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a county of 8,039 people, where 17.4% of residents were under age 18 in the 2020 census, the scale of the problem can hit especially hard. Allendale County is small enough that families often know one another across churches, schools and neighborhoods, which makes a public gathering like this one especially visible and personal.

The bash is meant to offer more than information. Organizers say teens and families will find mental health resources, wellness activities, food, music, games and a safe space centered on love and support. The evening is also expected to bring together mental health professionals and community partners, giving parents a chance to connect directly with people who can help them recognize warning signs and point young people toward care.

The event has already shown it can draw a crowd. A 2024 report said nearly 300 participants signed in for the foundation’s second annual event, suggesting that the message is reaching beyond a single family story and into a wider local network of concern.

Mauri 4 The Win’s own nonprofit record identifies it as a 501(c)(3) formed in 2023, and the Southern Palmetto Regional Chamber lists the bash as part of its Allendale and Barnwell County community calendar. For Washington, the gathering is another step in turning private grief into a public lifeline for young people who may be struggling quietly.