Honoring
James Henry McCann IV:

A Legacy of Healing and Hope

scholarships for adolescent and young adult males

In honor of James Henry McCann IV—a brilliant, creative, and compassionate young man whose life ended far too soon — we are launching The James Henry McCann IV Foundation in partnership with The Change Your Brain Foundation. James was an innovative thinker, a skilled craftsman, and a devoted friend who faced silent struggles with anxiety and OCD. This initiative will provide scholarships for adolescent and young adult males (ages 10 to 25) to receive comprehensive brain evaluations, including SPECT imaging and integrative treatment plans at the Amen Clinics, in hopes of giving others the support and answers that James was unable to find.

Foundation’s GOAL

We want to raise $100,000 in 2025 in honor of James to provide scholarships for adolescent and young adult males. With your help we can make a difference for others who are struggling. Donate any amount, and The James Henry McCann IV Foundation will match the first $50,000 donated — amplifying your impact.

BE THE CHANGE—ONE BRAIN AT A TIME
Want to make an even greater difference? Consider that a $2,500 donation sponsors one full scholarship given the matching gift from the foundation, providing a young male (ages 10 to 25) with life-changing brain health assessments and personalized treatment.

DONATE TODAY

ALARMING STATISTICS

2nd leading cause

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10 – 24

1 in 7 adolescents

Ages 10-19 experience a mental disorder, with
depression and anxiety among the leading causes of illness

4x higher in males

Suicide rates among males remain alarmingly high—22.8 per 100,000 men compared to 5.7 per 100,000 women

James’ Story:
A Brilliant Mind, A Beautiful Soul

James Henry McCann IV was an intelligent, creative, and endlessly curious young man. A natural engineer, he found joy in bringing ideas to life, whether designing intricate woodworking projects, building a 14-foot fishing skiff, or dreaming up new ways to create and innovate.

Beyond his craftsmanship, James had a deep love for nature and animals, always eager to rescue creatures in need and care for his family’s pets. He was also a fierce competitor and teammate, excelling as a varsity pitcher and outfielder in high school. His friendships, built on laughter, loyalty, and kindness, were among his greatest joys.

But James’ journey was also marked by silent struggles. Anxiety and OCD followed him into adolescence and young adulthood. After college, the weight of these challenges—compounded by the isolation of the global COVID pandemic and shutdowns—became overwhelming. Like many young men, he faced a system that relied heavily on medication and talk therapy, without ever examining the root cause of his distress.

James’ life ended far too soon. But his story does not have to end here.

36.2% of young adults (18-25)
faced mental illness in 2022 (NIMH)

National Institute of Mental Health

CDC’s latest youth well-being study

  • 4 in 10 high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with 1 in 4 male (28%)
  • 2 in 10 students seriously considered attempting suicide and almost 1 in 10 students attempted suicide.
  • For girls, the rates are often higher. But boys are far less likely to seek help when they need it.

State of American Men 2023

  • Men aged 18 to 23 have the least optimism for their futures and the lowest levels of social support.
  • 65% of men aged 18 to 23 say that “no one really knows me well.”
  • 44% of all men had thoughts of suicide in the prior two weeks; younger men show the highest levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.

WHAT THIS scholarship provides

Every scholarship provides an adolescent or young adult male (ages 10 to 25) with:

  • 2 Brain SPECT Imaging Scans
  • Neuropsychological assessments
  • Personal intake history
  • Meeting with Amen Clinic Physician for interpretation of results and personalized treatment plan
  • 3 follow up appointments with Amen Clinic physician
  • BrainMD supplements

Join Us in Honoring James’ Legacy

Together, we can revolutionize brain health one brain at a time by delivering life changing diagnostic methods and treatments—and change the course of a life.

Donate today and help us change the worlD, one brain at a time.

DONATE TODAY

The James Henry McCann IV foundation will match every dollar donated up to $50.000, which will amplify your impact.