Finding Strength Together, Our Beginning
Every organization has a beginning, and for Priority Wellness Campaign, that beginning was simple: a conversation.
It started with a small group of first responders who saw something many overlooked: their co-workers’ silent struggles with mental health. The very people who rush toward emergencies often struggle in silence when it comes to their mental health. They are quick to put others first, but too often left without the support they deserve.
Those conversations turned into a vision. What if there was a way to break the stigma, to create a safe space where first responders could lean on each other and find the strength they so often give away?
Patrick O’Connell, co-founder and former Board Chair, remembers those early talks vividly:
“My inspiration stemmed from like-minded individuals who wanted to help improve the mental well-being of 1st responders. The more we talked about the idea of starting a campaign, the more inspired I became. Priority Wellness was pivotal in myself seeking mental health help.”
For Pat, those conversations didn’t just plant the seed of a nonprofit; they opened the door to his journey of healing. His story became proof of what we believed from the beginning: that change starts when we’re willing to speak openly and walk together.
What began around a backyard bonfire grew into something larger than any one person. Volunteers stepped up, ready to serve. Donors believed in the mission and gave it roots. And most importantly, first responders themselves began to reach out, finding in PWC a community where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.
Since then, Priority Wellness Campaign has grown into a movement, offering peer support, education, and innovative programs designed to meet first responders where they are. But no matter how much we grow, the heart of our story will always remain the same: a group of people saw a need, and they refused to look away.
Our founding story reminds us that every big change begins small, with a conversation, with an idea, with people brave enough to say, “We can do better.”
Today, PWC continues to carry that spirit forward, ensuring first responders know they are never alone.