Oklahoma Chapter now has an Area Director

The Oklahoma Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) started as a grassroots effort when David Threatt began doing fundraising walks in 2008. Friends and family of David joined in the effort and the Oklahoma City, Out of the Darkness Walk grew. In 2009 Robin Hudson LeBlanc started the Tulsa Out of the Darkness Walk to honor her son. Over the years, both walks grew signficantly and the cause began to take root. In 2015, AFSP officially recognized the Oklahoma Chapter and granted its charter.

While volunteers worked tirelessly to carry out the mission of AFSP, for many years, the chapter operated with a part-time staff that lived in a neighboring state. In August 2022, AFSP hired Oklahoma's first Area Director, Tami Kellar.

Tami grew up in Oregon and attended Orange Coast College in Southern California where she was a competitive swimmer. After living in California, Tami returned to Oregon and finished her degree at Linfield College. While raising three small children, Tami accepted a position at the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA. and that choice led to many opportunities within the Y. During her tenure, Tami held multiple positions, including Aquatic Director, Senior Program Director and Associate Executive Director. In 2016 Tami led operations through the opening of a 17-million-dollar new facility that doubled in both membership and programs.

In 2018, Tami accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Great Plains Family YMCA in Weatherford, Oklahoma. During her time at the Great Plains Family YMCA, Tami renovated the facility, restructured the organizational chart, increased membership and secured multiple grants. These important changes took the struggling YMCA out of its "priority" status and put the organization on a firm foundation. Tami comes to the Oklahoma Chapter of AFSP with significant experience in operations, fundraising, board development, strategic planning, programming and building collaborative partnerships.  When she is not working, Tami enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and any kind of water sport.

Tami is excited about the opportunity to work for AFSP because of the mportant mission that resonates so profoundly with her and the progressive nature of AFSP's work. Tami feels the opportunity to lead the state in preventing suicide and promoting mental health is something that is impactful and important, especially on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic.