Every Story Matters. His Does, and So Will Yours.
We believe everyone’s background and voice matter. By fostering a culture of openness and connection, we’re building a resilient community of hope and healing.
Matt's Story
The Matt Harbin Foundation was founded in 2024 in honor of Matt Harbin, who took his own life on April 2nd, 2018.
He was a son to proud parents, a role model to younger brothers, and a friend to everyone he met.
But He Wasn't Just That
From the start you could tell he was one of those guys everyone wanted to know. He was the All American kid that everyone looked up to and wanted to be like. Smart, annoyingly good at everything, and friends with everyone. Even after all that when you got to know him he was an even better person. He treated everyone the right way, and no different no matter who you were.
As we both grew up and went off to school, we would always find time to connect during the breaks, over a drink or a golf round. He would come back with a wealth of knowledge, that would often lead to deep talks about life and the future. He truly cared about how you were doing and what you wanted to do. He had a heart that was caring, funny, genuine and always made sure you felt loved.
Matt’s influence on my life became even more profound after he graduated college. At the time, he was interning at Goldman Sachs (if I remember right), and I was bartending at a local sports bar, unsure about my future. I told him I was thinking about going back to school. He didn’t just encourage me—he pushed me to believe in myself. Because of him, I went back and earned not one, but two degrees: in accounting and finance. I owe so much to Matt—not just for his friendship, but for the way he saw potential in people and inspired them to reach it. He truly changed my life.
Matt always "had a brand-new idea he wanted to run past us. I can’t remember how many times I’d get back to the house and he was pitching my Dad a business proposal. I never saw Matt take a day off, he was always grinding and trying to mold his life into what he wanted, which I always admired.
He told me once when he was working at Goldman Sachs that his coworkers nicknamed him the Terminator because he was always the first one in and the last one out, and of course he was doing this daily while getting his MBA from SMU.
Matt was taken from us before we got to see what he was truly capable of. He was brilliant, inspirational, inventive, entrepreneurial, stoic, hard-working, hard-headed, goofy, kind, personable, and lovable. He could do anything he wanted to. But like so many others, he wasn't capable of asking for help. We're here to change that. For the longest time, society has told people to "suck it up", "grin and bear it", or "rub some dirt on it". Those platitudes served us when wars were fought on battlefields, but they do nothing for the wars that are fought on the inside. The world lost one of its best in April of 2018, and our family will never be the same because of it. We're here to do everything in our power to make sure that no one else has to go through what we've been through. When your Big Brother dies young, you spend the rest of your life trying to make him proud. This foundation is the first step toward doing so, but we can't do it without your help. Please consider joining us in our mission to end the mental health crisis through research, education, and empowerment.
To end the mental health crisis through research, education, and empowerment.
We envision connected communities where each person is included, understood, and given every opportunity to grow into the best version of themselves.
How Do We Get There?
Rooted in Central Texas, our organization works with school districts, college campuses, suicide prevention researchers, and like-minded nonprofits to inform and mentor people on how to overcome life’s obstacles.
Research
We continually collaborate with leaders in mental health and suicide prevention research to discern where we can have the greatest impact.
Education
We introduce and support programs that equip individuals with tools and strategies to navigate mental health challenges as they arise.
Empowerment
Each and every person has something to offer the world. We help individuals discover their strengths, then facilitate their development so they can become who they’re meant to be.
Connection
In order to create real bonds, we have to be vulnerable about our struggles. We openly share our story in hopes that others feel comfortable sharing theirs.
Community
We rally together to build a support network for those in need, and work with other organizations in the Central Texas Region to create the biggest impact possible.
Inclusion
Everyone has a unique story and background, which is what makes them exceptional. We bridge the gaps between our differences, cultivating individuality into a shared foundation of strength.
Growth
We prioritize continuous learning and personal development in ourselves and those around us in order to foster resilience, kindness, and teamwork in our community.
The Lil Smokie Invitational
Join us for a golf tournament supporting The Matt Harbin Foundation!
How ThriveWay Can Help Your School
ThriveWay’s program, inspired by the legacy of Jennifer Claire Moore, offers schools a powerful, research-based solution for supporting student mental health and fostering a culture of inclusion and resilience. The Matt Harbin Foundation partners directly with schools to help implement and subsidize the program, ensuring it’s accessible and tailored to each campus’s unique needs. By equipping students to support their peers and embedding prevention and positive development into every grade level, the program builds lasting structures of care that uplift individuals and strengthen entire school communities.
- Empowers Students as Leaders: Trains a diverse group of students to recognize signs of distress and provide peer-level support through mentoring, tutoring, and mediation.
- Early Intervention: Creates a frontline of trusted peers who students are more likely to approach before turning to adults, enabling faster, more empathetic responses.
- Builds a Culture of Care: Promotes a school-wide shift toward compassion, connection, and open dialogue through positive development curricula for grades K–12.
- Delivers a Multi-Tiered Support System: Integrates prevention programs and peer support at both elementary and secondary levels to meet diverse student needs.
- Provides Real-Time Insights: Offers a digital resource hub with data collection tools to customize and improve the program continuously.
- Includes Professional Guidance: Schools are supported by trained ThriveWay coaches who work alongside coordinators to tailor implementation and ensure success.