An inspiring update to our partnership with the Study USA Alumni Committee

Lighthouse are delighted to share an inspiring update to our partnership with the Study USA Alumni Committee.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Study USA alumni turned out in impressive numbers to attend the Belfast Giants ice hockey game—an energetic, good‑humoured gathering that brought together graduates and current students from various years and universities. The atmosphere was warm and collegial: old friends caught up, new connections were forged, and the shared spirit of the programme was unmistakable in every conversation across the stands.

Thanks to strong community engagement and coordinated ticketing, the event raised substantial funds for Lighthouse. We are deeply grateful to everyone who bought a ticket, spread the word, and showed up with heart. Every contribution helps us continue our vital work supporting people experiencing mental health challenges and those affected by suicide. On the day, our team was proud to be on hand—meeting alumni, answering questions, and sharing practical information about how Lighthouse’s services can be accessed quickly and confidentially. It was a day that affirmed the power of community: when people come together with intent and compassion, tangible change follows.

Starting in 1994, the Study USA programme (formerly the Business Education Initiative) was originally designed to assist with the peace process, with the White House providing an endorsement for the programme in 2014 in a letter written by President Bill Clinton.

Since then, the initiative has enabled over 2,500 students studying in Northern Ireland to study in all four corners of the US. Through providing a unique international experience for the students, the programme has helped to develop important connections between Northern Ireland and the US, strengthening cultural and economic links and understanding between the two countries.

The Study USA scholarship programme is delivered by the British Council on behalf of the Department for the Economy.

The Study USA Alumni Committee was established to mobilise and engage this extensive alumni network to undertake activities with a philanthropic focus in line with the ethos and aims of Study USA.

This year, committee members unanimously voted to work in partnership with Lighthouse as their nominated charity partner, and we look forward to creating more awareness of the charity, promoting positive mental health, and raising much‑needed funds to enable the charity to continue to support people struggling with their mental health and those affected by suicide.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to build on this momentum—expanding outreach, deepening alumni involvement, and creating more moments where sport, solidarity, and service intersect for good. To everyone who attended, organised, or supported from afar: thank you. Your generosity lights the way.

We are profoundly grateful to the Study USA alumni, organisers, and all who joined us on Thanksgiving. Your generosity and camaraderie translated into substantial support for Lighthouse’s work, and we cannot thank you enough. We look forward to building on this connection in the months ahead—continuing to show up for one another, championing mental health, and creating moments that make a real difference in our community.