SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) \u2014 Three years ago, Joe Tuia’ana made headlines for a heroic act of compassion \u2014 pulling over on an I-15 overpass to help save a stranger on the verge of taking his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just opened my arms to him and started walking slowly toward him, and the first thing that came to my mind was, ‘I love you, bro,’\u201d Joe said. \u201cAnd I just said it over and over until I loved him off the ledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
That single moment, defined by four powerful words \u2014 \u201cI love you, bro\u201d \u2014 sparked something much bigger. Today, it\u2019s a full-blown movement.<\/p>\n
MORE | Pay It Forward:<\/p>\n
\u201cNow it just means just so much more,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s changed my life forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe turned that life-changing experience into a mission: The I Love You, Bro Project, a nonprofit focused on men\u2019s mental health and suicide prevention.<\/p>\n
\u201cMen are 80% of all suicides,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing out there for men. I found how bad it was, and I thought, ‘I think I can do something about this.’\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, he hosts free weekly support groups and workshops across Utah, offering men a safe space to talk, connect, and be reminded of their worth.<\/p>\n
\u201cBring your challenges, bring your beautiful brokenness, and let\u2019s talk about this,\u201d he said. \u201cWe remind guys how freaking awesome they are.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Joe, this has become a new purpose \u2014 second only to being a dad. The single father of three daughters said they\u2019ve been by his side since day one \u2014 helping bake cookies, set up chairs, and build the grassroots support group into a growing community.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo think we started with just a few people and now we have ten groups. It\u2019s overwhelming. I\u2019m so thankful to have my kids involved,\u201d he said through tears.<\/p>\n
As demand grows, so does the need for funding. That\u2019s where KUTV and Mountain America Credit Union stepped in \u2014 to Pay It Forward and offer a Joe with a small donation to support his growing movement.<\/p>\n
Joe, speechless, simply responded: \u201cI never expected this.\u201d<\/p>\n
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