In the News

Watch an interview with our founder and CEO, Francine Sumner. Francine  has been selected from an incredible list of Arizona women to represent our state at Nexstar Media's 2026 Remarkable Women national celebration in Nashville, Tennessee.

Remarkable Women is part of a nationwide Nexstar Media initiative to honor the influence that women have had on public policy, social progress and the quality of life.

HB 2093 represents a step backward at a time when our children need us to move forward. Protecting mental health education in schools is not about ideology. It is about protecting kids who are quietly hurting.

Scottsdale.com interview with our Founder & CEO, Francine Sumner, about Kid in the Corner and her journey turning grief into a mission that has helped thousands. 

Francine Sumner, CEO of Kid in the Corner talked with azfamily 3TV CBS 5 today about their Penny Pledge. It's a way to promote kindness during National Bullying Prevention Month.

In the United States, we are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis among our youth. Yet, despite the mounting evidence that mental health issues are impacting our children and adolescents, we are still failing to address the problem adequately.

Watch our founder, Francine Sumner, in a live studio interview with AZ Family highlighting the importance of mental health programming in the classroom.

Recognizing their ongoing commitment to mental health awareness, Together AZ is honored to highlight Francine Sumner, her family and team for their tireless work in helping to save lives, through conversation, awareness and shattering the stigma.

As more and more of Arizona's youth find themselves in need of mental health care, the state is struggling to keep up. Phoenix Children's experts said, almost 90% of Arizona’s communities do not have enough mental health providers, placing the state in the bottom third of the United States.

Youth mental health faces significant challenges as the semester winds down and the holiday season begins. The end of the semester often brings intense academic pressures, with exams, assignments, and grades looming large. 

We are in a crisis, but it's one we can address together. As Kid in the Corner enters its seventh year, we've seen the power of community, kindness, and open dialogue. We've seen lives transformed and saved because people were willing to listen, support, and stand up for those in need. But there is still so much more to be done.

It’s been just over seven years since Francine Sumner’s 16-year-old son, Zach, died by suicide. Those feelings of grief and tremendous loss will be with her always. Ms. Sumner channeled that pain into a new mission of helping others. She founded Kid in the Corner, a nonprofit that educates, spreads awareness and connects kids with the community in an effort to shatter the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and 12News is looking at where Arizona stands in terms of access to mental health resources. Kid in the Corner's Founder & CEO is featured sharing Zach Sumner's story and urging to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health and advocating for more mental health support.

Valley mom Francine Sumner is determined to ensure no child feels isolated or alone. It's something her son Zachary did when he was a child. Describing him as kind, funny, intelligent, and giving, Sumner also told ABC15 that Zach was fighting to conquer his mental illness.

Kid in the Corner's Founder & CEO, Francine Sumner, appeared on Arizona's Family in September during Suicide Prevention Month to discuss Zach's story, resources, and programming to support youth mental health. 

In This Episode of What's the Lesson, we discuss the importance of finding the right provider for YOU and your loved one. What do you look for in a “safe friend”? How to have better communication with your kids.

In this episode, Mathew and Francine discuss how and why Zachary was lost to suicide, why the language we use matters, and what  Kid in a Corner is doing to shine a light on mental illness through education, awareness, and contagious kindness.