FOLEY, Ala. — In 1997, Jennifer Claire Moore was a sophomore at Foley High School.

“She had just transferred from Bayside,” said Frances Holk-Jones, Jennifer’s mother.

Sixteen, and in a new school. That’s tough for anyone, but something was badly wrong. In 1997, Jennifer shot herself. Her then 14-year-old brother, Grayson, found her body.

For Holk-Jones, the loss was “devastating.” But she also decided to take action. The Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation was established to help young people cope with the day-to-day problems and pressures of life.

“What is minor to us is major to them,” explained Holk-Jones. She pointed out she learned that when a teen is in trouble, one of the first persons they reach out to is a friend, then someone like a teacher or counselor at school followed by “community leaders.”

“The good parents make number five on the list,” said Holk-Jones.

The Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation tries to give students tools to work through the problems they face. One of the methods is a program of “peer counselors,” who are selected by teachers and trained to be a listening ear for fellow students with problems.

The peer counselors don’t give advice, but enable a fellow student to talk out his or her problems in a safe, non-threatening atmosphere.

The program is not just suicide prevention. According to the foundation’s website, “ Peer Helper Programs deal with a variety of issues that students are faced with including self esteem, general stress, sexual abstinence, alcohol/drug use, parental divorce, weight issues, suicide and grief. The Foundation also partners with other organizations to bring speakers to the community to discuss issues ranging from teenage safety to mental health.”

The program is now 14 years old, and will be in 44 schools next year.

“That’s all the Baldwin County public schools and two private schools,” said Ashley Jones, a relative of Holk-Jones and member of the JCM Foundation. “We have peer helpers in grades K-12.”

Jones added that if a school is interested in programs offered by the JCM Foundation, they should go to the foundation’s website, www.jennifermoorefoundation.com.

To do that takes money. A lot of it. The foundation makes most of its funds with an annual rodeo. This year’s rodeo will be held at the Foley Horse Arena (Aug. 4, 5 and 6) just across from South Baldwin Regional Medical Center on Highway 59. SBRMC is a sponsor of the event.

“Jennifer and I both rode horses,” said Holk-Jones. She went on to say that she had run a fundraising rodeo for the Heart Association, who stepped aside to allow the JCM Foundation to have the rodeo event to themselves. It’s appropriate — Jennifer Claire Moore was once a rodeo queen.

“This is a Professional Cowboy Association Rodeo,” said Holk-Jones. That means rodeo enthusiasts will be seeing professional riders riding bulls, bucking broncos, rodeo clowns, calf-roping and all the other events one would expect to find at a rodeo.

To promote a family atmosphere, no alcoholic beverages are sold, and there are a variety of events planned for younger children.

Holk-Jones was a barrel-racer, and her husband, Carl-Jones, has been involved in calf-roping.

It takes about 100 volunteers to put on the event. Anyone interested in volunteering can go to the website and offer.

“All the families are involved somehow,” said Jones.

Holk-Jones added, “This (the foundation and rodeo) is very rewarding. This makes Jennifer’s life and death meaningful.”

Rodeo events include:

• A Barrel Race will be held Aug. 2, at 7 p.m., at the Foley Horse Arena. Admission to this event is free.

• On Aug 6, there will be a riding exhibition at 8 a.m. and a barrel race at 10 a.m. Admission is free.

• Pre-rodeo activities begin at 7 p.m. each night. The rodeo begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 4–12, and free for children 3 and under.

• On Thursday, Aug. 4, the theme will be “Hometown Heroes.” According to Jones, any uniformed service member, from military to law enforcement, to firefighters to EMTs, will get in free.

• Friday, Aug. 5, the theme will be “Tough Enough to Wear Pink,” to support breast cancer awareness. Many of the riders (even the tough hombres who ride bulls) will be wearing pink, and audience members are also urged to wear pink.

• Saturday, Aug. 6 is “Family Night.” A children’s village will be set up, with a “jumpy house,” face-painting and balloons. The rodeo queens and cowboys will be signing autographs.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.jennifermoorefoundation.com/rodeo.html for a $1 discount. Tickets can also be purchased at the Summerdale Western Store on Highway 59 in Summerdale, and at the Frances Holk-Jones State Farm agency at 315 E. Laurel Ave. in Foley.

Tickets will also be sold at the rodeo gate. Watch your copy of this Gulf Coast Newspapers publication for a discount coupon.