KDR Foundation
Brothers’ Keeper

The Kappa Delta Rho Foundation’s mission is “to financially support the educational, leadership, and character development programs undertaken by the National Fraternity of Kappa Delta Rho.” To fulfill its mission, the Foundation enlists the support of our more than 29,000 alumni Brothers, as well as family and friends, to provide the resources to support programs that impact our undergraduate Brothers. The programs help them maximize their college experience to be better men and better leaders as they graduate and move on with their careers. And, at times, there can emerge needs that seem to dwarf the ability to respond. We face one of those moments today, and rather than bury our heads, the collective leadership of the National Fraternity and Foundation have agreed, KDR will respond. KDR will lead.

The Brothers’ Keeper Program is a multi-faceted program intended to develop positive health and mental health behaviors and habits, and also to educate and encourage brothers to reach out for professional help for themselves or a friend when in distress. There is ample evidence that supporting life skills (life positive health behaviors) and building positive social connections promotes mental health and helps to limit substance misuse and suicide.

As our Brothers’ keeper, we should be aware of possible warning signs and subtle calls for help. We do not have to be mental health professionals to recognize someone else’s difficulties or our own and seek assistance. We cannot stand idly by and expect that brothers struggling with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse will ask for help or resolve these issues on their own. A Brotherhood means that we support each other, and we put a hand out to those Brothers who need it; we do not wait to be asked or invited. Sometimes, the request for help doesn’t come and the impact of the death of a Brother on everyone whose life he touched is profound, and forever.