Laura Katz and Ruth Tillman started Gwendolyn’s Light in 2019 after Gwendolyn took her own life on November 24, 2019 at the age of 15.  Mark Hersman joined them soon after.

 

Gwendolyn was a beautiful, friendly, caring teen who lived in Alameda, California. Gwendolyn’s struggles were in part due to an ongoing lack of access to mental health care. 

 

Ruth and Laura (two Moms in Alameda) established Gwendolyn’s Light to fill the gaps in mental health care access for teens in Alameda.