Her Story
About Francine
Francine Sumner is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kid in the Corner, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Founded in 2017 following the loss of her son, Zachary, Francine created the organization to address the stigma surrounding mental illness and help young people and families recognize the importance of mental health. Through education, awareness, kindness initiatives, and connections to community resources, Kid in the Corner works to ensure that young people know how to ask for help and where to find support.
Francine brings a diverse professional background spanning early childhood education, program development, entrepreneurship, and caregiving. Her experience in education helped shape her approach to creating structured programs and curricula, while her entrepreneurial experience as a jewelry designer strengthened her ability to build relationships, organize initiatives, and bring ideas to life. As CEO, Francine leads Kid in the Corner's community partnerships, school programming, fundraising efforts, and advocacy initiatives, including programs that have reached more than 5,000 Arizona youth in a year.
A passionate mental health advocate and Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Francine is committed to creating open conversations around mental health and making support more accessible to young people. Her work has earned recognition including the 2025 Mental Health Advocate Award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and recognition as one of the 2023 Women Achievers of Arizona by the Arizona Capitol Times. Through Kid in the Corner, Francine continues to build community awareness, encourage compassion and kindness, and honor Zachary's legacy by working toward a future where no young person feels alone or unable to ask for help.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Francine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to tenacity, resilience, compassion, and staying connected to my mission. Kid in the Corner began as a grassroots effort at my dining room table, and I kept going because I knew there were young people and families who needed support and a safe space to discuss mental health. I also credit the people who have joined me—professionals and community members who bring their expertise, collaboration, and commitment to the mission. Most importantly, I remain focused on the people we serve and the impact we can make, knowing that helping even one young person feel less alone makes the work worthwhile.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was to keep the mission focused. When you are passionate about a cause, it is easy to try to solve every problem, but staying true to what you do best creates greater impact. I also learned that collaboration is a strength—if others are already doing something well, partner with them rather than duplicate their efforts. Staying focused on our mission while working with people who bring different expertise has allowed Kid in the Corner to grow without losing sight of why we began.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Believe in yourself and your mission, and don’t be afraid to start with what you have, even if it begins at your kitchen or dining room table. Surround yourself with people whose strengths complement your own, embrace collaboration, and stay focused on the work you are uniquely called to do. Meaningful change often begins with one person having the courage to care and make a difference.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is still the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, especially when families, schools, and communities are uncomfortable having open conversations. At the same time, there is a significant opportunity to reach young people earlier through education and prevention, particularly around fifth and sixth grade when concerns like anxiety may begin to emerge. Growing awareness and interest from schools and communities beyond Arizona also create opportunities to expand our programs and make a greater impact.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith, family, community, compassion, empathy, kindness, courage, grace, and perseverance are central to my life. I believe kindness begins with how we treat ourselves and extends to those around us, especially people who may be struggling silently. Above all, I strive to live with courage, make a meaningful difference, and honor Zachary’s legacy by creating a world where no child feels invisible or alone and asking for help is met with compassion rather than stigma.
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