iMatter Festival for struggling young adults
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ELMIRA, N.Y. -- This marks the fifth year of the event, which works to combat teen suicide and self-injury. The iMatter Foundation involves faith-based, corporate and community leaders who reach out to young adults to make them feel that they matter.
The first year, only 300 young adults showed up, but by the third year, it grew to about 8,000 people. In addition to all the music, this weekend's festival offered college representatives, employers, community help groups and more to spread the main message.
"If life's tough, it will get better. And, if there's anybody here that has maybe, 'I don't have a good sense of strong self-worth,' and something is going on inside, life's a little difficult, we want them to leave this place knowing, hey there's somebody here that cares enough to reach out and say we care," said Dave King, iMatter Foundation Executive Director.
Bands that were scheduled to play at the all-day event include "The Devil Wears Prada"," For Today" and more.