Live Free 999 honors Jarad “Juice WRLD” Higgins and supports young people in their battles with addiction, anxiety and depression.
The fund was started by Jarad’s mother, Carmela Wallace, to support young people in their battles and to do so with love, joy and emotional honesty.
“Young people around the world were truly touched by Jarad’s music because he spoke to issues and situations in his music that resonated with them so deeply,” said Ms. Wallace. “I was aware of his struggles with addiction, anxiety, and depression; we had many conversations about his challenges with these issues. I know he truly wanted to be free from the demons that tormented him. I made the decision upon his death that I was going to share his struggles with the world with the objective of helping others. It is my desire to help those who are hurting by providing access to education, prevention and treatment for opioid and other forms of drug addiction. It is my hope that Live Free 999 will help people just as Jarad’s music has and will continue to touch lives for years to come.”
Live Free 999 will strive towards:
- Supporting programs that compassionately and successfully address addiction, anxiety, and depression.
- Normalizing the conversation around these issues, especially in underserved communities.
- Supporting programs that help people find positive avenues to process their mental health challenges just like Jarad did with his music.
His name is Jarad. But the world knew him as Juice WRLD. Jarad released four studio albums, nine EPs, two mixtapes, 35 singles and is one of the most streamed artists ever. What the world doesn’t know was the depth of his struggle with addiction and mental health.
At the height of his fame we all lost him, to an accidental drug overdose.
Carmela Wallace, Jarad’s mother, started Live Free 999, a non-profit organization, to remove the stigma and normalize conversations around mental health and substance abuse. Her goal? To ensure that no other parent or loved one faces what she faced.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. And there are likely many members of your own community struggling, who need to hear this message.
A new and powerful public service announcement produced in partnership between Live Free 999 and The Entertainment Industry Foundation, encourages people to reach out for help whether suffering from mental crisis or addition personally, or as a family member or friend. Founder In her own words, Carmela established Live Free 999 “to help those who suffer in silence and to normalize the conversation about mental health and addiction.”
The Live Free 999 Fund established by Carmela Wallace will receive additional support via Grade A and Interscope Records.