Avery’s Story
Avery’s Story
A Life of Strength, Curiosity and Purpose
Avery Rashawn Burton (1994–2017)
“I don’t have weekdays on my calendar — only strong days.”
Avery Rashawn Burton was born to Mary Ann and Reggie Burton in Reno, Nevada. The oldest of three boys, he was a quiet, hardworking big brother who often led by example.
As a young athlete, Avery transformed himself through discipline and determination. He graduated with honors from Foothill High School in Henderson, where he competed in track and field, tennis and wrestling. His athletic accomplishments earned him the prestigious White Letter, awarded to student-athletes who letter in three varsity sports in the same year.
Avery chose to stay close to home and attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on an academic scholarship. At UNLV, he studied Kinesiological Sciences, worked as a lifeguard at the campus recreation center and built a close community of friends around fitness, hiking and competition.
His interests reflected the range of his personality. Avery studied chess, mastered the Rubik’s Cube, trained in boxing and jiu-jitsu, and won his first mixed martial arts competition. His intense workouts and intellectual curiosity became part of a personal philosophy he called “intellectual brutality.”
In May 2017, Avery graduated from UNLV and planned to pursue a doctoral degree in physical therapy.
Two months later, at age 22, Avery experienced a major depressive episode and died by suicide.
What We Learned
Avery’s death changed our family forever. It also forced us to confront a difficult truth: strength and struggle can exist at the same time.
A person can be accomplished, disciplined, loved and surrounded by community — and still experience a mental health crisis that others may not recognize.
In the years since Avery’s death, our family has learned more about depression, suicide prevention, grief and the importance of trusted relationships. We have also learned that when someone is struggling, the people around them often want to help but may not know what to recognize, how to respond or where to turn for support.
That lesson became part of the foundation for our work.
From Grief to Action
The Avery Burton Foundation was created to honor Avery’s life by helping others build stronger pathways to education, resilience and mental health support.
What began with a scholarship in Avery’s name has grown into a broader community mission — supporting students, advancing mental health awareness, creating partnerships and equipping everyday people to become trusted points of connection for others.
Today, Avery’s legacy lives through the students we support, the families we reach and the communities we serve.
It also lives through the next chapter of our work: the Mental Health Champions Academy, an initiative designed to help people learn how to:
Recognize when someone may be struggling.
Respond with empathy, trust and cultural awareness.
Refer people toward appropriate support and resources.
Because when someone chooses to trust you, knowing what to do next can matter.
Avery’s Legacy Continues
Avery was more than the worst day of our family’s life.
He was a son. A brother. A scholar. An athlete. A friend. A competitor. A young man with plans for his future.
We share his story not only because of how he died, but because of how he lived — and because his life continues to inspire action.
“I don’t have weekdays on my calendar — only strong days.”
Help Build a Community of Mental Health Champions