Last Friday, I was fortunate enough to have lunch with a colleague I had only known through Zoom, Chris Thomas. That’s Chris and me in the photo.
Chris co-founded The Defensive Line with his wife, Martha, and their son, Solomon Thomas, who plays Defensive Tackle for the Dallas Cowboys. Their organization was born from heartbreak after the loss of Chris and Martha’s beloved daughter, Ella Elizabeth, to suicide in 2018. Determined to honor Ella’s life and prevent other families from experiencing a similar tragedy, they built The Defensive Line to connect young people, especially youth of color, with mental health resources, hope, and support.
Drawing on his experience as a father and advocate, Chris works to break the stigma surrounding mental health and empower communities to have honest conversations about emotional well-being. Through speaking engagements, education programs, and partnerships with schools and professional organizations, The Defensive Line has reached thousands of young lives with a powerful message: you are never alone, and help is always within reach.
“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.”
-Dalai Lama
