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Our Mission Statement
The One Life Project works to build and create a kinder world where we educate, advocate for, and support teens, college students, and young adults who are struggling with mental health in the hopes of preventing suicide in young people and ending the stigma that surrounds mental health.
Our Mission and Goals
The One Life Project is deeply rooted in the Northeastern United States, where our story began with our very first office in upstate New York in Amsterdam. Today, our work continues to grow from our headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, and is led by our executive leadership offices in Erving and Amherst, Massachusetts, and Hershey, Pennsylvania. We proudly serve communities across the region through our regional offices in New York City; Old Orchard Beach, Maine (which also supports our Canadian partners and volunteers); Wildwood, New Jersey; and New Haven, Connecticut. These offices function as hubs for youth-driven education, engagement, and mental health advocacy throughout the Northeast. As a student-founded, student-led organization, over 82% of our team is made up of high school and college students who are leading the change in their own schools and hometowns.
While the Northeast is our home, our mission extends far beyond. We are supported by a global network of passionate volunteers, and our advocacy and educational materials reach young people across states and continents through millions of followers on social media. Our goal is to make mental health a visible, accessible, and valued priority in every classroom, community, and culture. We strive to ensure that every young person—regardless of their background, race, gender identity, or sexual orientation—feels seen, supported, and empowered to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and hope.
From local initiatives to international outreach, The One Life Project is building a movement where kindness, connection, and mental health education are driving a better world—starting here in the Northeast, and growing far beyond.
About One Life Project
The One Life Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization deeply rooted in the Northeastern United States. While our work began in upstate New York, we’ve since grown into a regional leader in mental health advocacy, with offices across the Northeast and a mission that centers around supporting teens, college students, and young adults through education, advocacy, and outreach. Our programs are designed to meet the mental health needs of young people right here in the Northeast, while our digital resources and online presence continue to reach youth far beyond our region.
Founded on February 14th, 2018, by Alexander Kovarovic, who serves as President and Chief Executive Director, The One Life Project has grown into a movement powered by over 3,500 volunteers and team members, with representation in all northeastern states, as well as volunteers from additional U.S. states and some additional countries. Over 95% of our team are volunteers, and more than 82% are high school or college students—the very communities we serve.
On January 4th, 2021, we launched our motto: “Be true. Be you. Be kind.” This simple message reflects our everyday mission to build a more compassionate world where every young person feels seen, supported, and valued.
2023 marked a milestone year in our growth. We opened new regional and executive offices, including our Boston headquarters and leadership locations in Hershey, PA, and Amherst and Erving, MA. We welcomed over 2,250 new volunteers, launched 150+ partnerships, and were featured in more than 50 media outlets. With offices now operating in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maine, our presence is stronger than ever—and our commitment to Northeast communities is at the heart of everything we do.
Together, we are working to build a kinder, more informed world—starting here at home.
How We Started
As a senior in high school, Alexander Kovarovic wanted to help others dealing with the things you struggled with growing up. Once he graduated, he started a nonprofit then called the National Youth Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Task Force, which focused on raising awareness for victims of bullying. The organization was run that way until 2020 when it took the new name, the One Life Project and created an entirely new mission of helping teens and young people with mental health. Our 'be true, be you, be kind' motto took form in 2021 and serves as a reminder to always be yourself while also being kind to others as kindness makes all the difference in our communities.
Importance of Our Mission
Youth mental health advocacy is of high importance as it addresses the unique challenges faced by the younger generation during a crucial period of development. Adolescence and young adulthood are transformative phases marked by significant emotional, social, and academic changes. Effective education, support, and advocacy ensures that the mental health needs of young individuals are not only acknowledged but prioritized. By promoting awareness, challenging stigmas, and advocating for accessible mental health resources, youth mental health advocacy fosters an environment where young people feel supported, understood, and empowered to seek help.
Mental health includes our social well-being as well as our psychological and emotional health. Our mental health affects how we think, how we act, our self esteem, how we view ourselves and others. Whether we are five years old, graduating high school, going through college, starting our first job, or retiring fifty years later, mental health is important and ignoring it can be detrimental to our overall well-being. Our social life is also heavily affected by our mental health.
The One Life Project's mission allows us to stand up for young people who are not yet strong enough to stand on their own. We work to educate, advocate for, and support them through some of the most difficult years of our lives.
One Life Project's Northeast Reach
The One Life Project’s offices across the Northeastern United States serve as the heartbeat of our mission—each one intentionally located to maximize our regional impact and connection to the communities we serve. With active offices in Boston and Amherst, MA; New York City, NY; Hershey and State College, PA; Wildwood, NJ, and Old Orchard Beach, ME, our reach stretches across the Northeast, reflecting our commitment to serving young people in both urban centers and small towns.
These offices are more than just workspaces—they are local hubs for mental health outreach, education, and grassroots advocacy. Each location helps us respond to the unique needs of its community, ensuring that our programs are not only accessible but deeply relevant. Whether we’re connecting with students in college towns, partnering with schools, or supporting coastal and rural communities, our team meets youth where they are—both geographically and emotionally.
From classrooms and campuses to neighborhood centers and beachside towns, The One Life Project is building a culture of resilience, kindness, and belonging across the region. Through strong partnerships with schools, universities, and local organizations, we open doors for honest conversations around mental health—empowering young people to speak up, seek help, and support one another.
Our success is measured not just by how far we reach, but by how deeply we connect. In every community we serve, we strive to create a space where every young person feels seen, heard, and supported—right here in the Northeast.
