The NOSOLO Giveback Foundation will mark five years of mental health advocacy with a night at the races.
The Middletown-based nonprofit, a registered 501(c)(3), will host Off to the Races: NOSOLO Foundation Derby on Saturday, May 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Salve Regina University’s Young Building. The Kentucky Derby-themed event features a live stream of the race and an atmosphere built around community connection. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best pastels and seersucker suits.
All funds raised will directly support student mental health programs at Salve Regina, including resources, programming and wellness initiatives designed for both student-athletes and the broader student body.
The impact of that work has resonated. “Sharing your story with our team changed everything,” one student-athlete said of their experience with NOSOLO resources. “Because you had the strength to say you weren’t okay, I found the strength to do the same.”
NOSOLO Founder John Toracinta told What’sUpNewp that the growing partnership with the university has been a natural fit. “Both groups share the same belief that mental health plays a central role in a student’s ability to succeed, whether that’s in the classroom, in competition, or in everyday life,” he said.
Since its founding, NOSOLO has built its following around a straightforward message — that people want to feel supported, understood and know they are not navigating things alone. The organization has drawn in local businesses, community leaders and students, with the Toracinta family’s ties to the island giving the work a distinctly local feel.
Toracinta said reaching the five-year mark feels less like a finish line and more like a starting point. The need for accessible mental health resources is not going anywhere, and the demand for spaces like this continues to grow, he said.
Sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. More information is available at nosolobrand.com or by emailing sarah@nosolobrand.com.
