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Standing almost 6 feet 4 inches with dark brown hair, a well manicured goatee and eyes that shimmer in the light; Lawrence Sprung rarely walks in a room without being noticed. But what you do not expect from this successful Certified Financial Planner is the soft-spoken manner in which he speaks of his deceased brother-in-law, Keith Milano.

Keith passed away by suicide in 2004 after a long battle with Bipolar Disorder. Since that time, Mr. Sprung has had an unrelenting passion for raising awareness and funds for mental illness. Larry now networks and devotes countless hours to fundraising for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). He is determined to shed light on this devastating illness and to inform the public of the tragic toll mental illness takes on our communities.

In honor of Keith’s laughter and spirit, Larry has helped organize the Keith Milano Memorial Golf Outing, which in six years has raised over $400,000 for the Keith Milano Memorial Fund at AFSP. The money from the Memorial Fund in Keith’s name has been used to fund research projects and to produce educational films. The film for High School students and staff called More than Sad, is a very timely film that speaks of teen depression and even profiles the devastating effects of cyberbullying.

Mr. Sprung's commitment to the cause of suicide prevention has been recognized by the leaders of AFSP. In 2009 he was appointed to their National Board of Directors. He is also a member of the National Development Committee.

After Keith’s passing Larry commented that he never knew you could die from mental illness. Mr. Sprung is determined to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and to raise public awareness of this illness that most families struggle with in silence.

Larry’s mission is also a personal one; he is determined to ensure that our two young sons remember “Uncle Keithy” and his love for them. He leads by example, making sure our sons know the importance of giving back and that good can come from tragedy. Life is not about what happens to you but what you do when bad things happen. Mr. Sprung has taken the tragic death of his brother-in-law and turned it into a life's mission.

Mr. Sprung is working to make the world free from the stigma associated with mental illness, he hopes his countless hours of work will result in a world were more people feel comfortable seeking help and speaking about mental illness.