Tate’s Joy event to raise awareness of suicide prevention and pet adoption

ROYAL OAK — In honor of her daughter, who died in 2020 due to suicide, Melissa Ambrose-Eidson created a charity event dedicated to the things that her daughter, Tatum, loved.

The event is called “Tate’s Joy” and will be taking place July 20 at the First Congregational Church of Royal Oak, where Ambrose-Eidson is the music minister.

Tatum Eidson, 23, was an animal lover who worked for the Oakland County Animal Shelter, where she took care of many different animals. According to Ambrose-Eidson, her daughter was someone who advocated for pet adoption and care.

Tate’s Joy is also a suicide awareness event. The money raised at the event will be going to suppport homeless animals and Kevin’s Song, a local suicide support group.

“Her coworkers have just been phenomenal,” Ambrose-Eidson said about the Oakland County Animal Shelter. “They cared so much about her. It was so easy because they were on board with doing the same thing.”

In 2023, the event raised $6,500 that was donated to Kevin’s Song and to support homeless animals.

Dave Meinhard is a member of the First Congregational Church of Royal Oak and a close friend of Ambrose-Eidson. Meinhard said he had the opportunity to get to know Tatum through a musical group at the church.

“She was a really talented musician; she played violin and we had a fun little group at our church with a few violins, and I played accordion and guitar,” he said.

In honor of her love for music, five bands composed of Tatum’s friends will be performing at the event.

Meinhard helped to launch the event in 2023. He said he was glad to help again for the second year in a row.

“Last year, we had great weather and a huge turnout,” he said. “Nobody really kept track of numbers, but I would say we had at least 500 people come on and off throughout the afternoon.”

Meinhard said that around 50 people from the church helped to run the different booths and volunteered in 2023, and he expects the same for this year.

In 2023, the Oakland County Animal Shelter was the only shelter that participated in the event, but it will be joined this year by Detroit Dog Rescue and No Dogs Left Behind. All three of these shelters will have animals on-site for adoption between noon and 4 p.m.

Being able to provide an outlet for animal shelters to get the animals adopted was one of the major things Tatum would have loved, according to her mother.

“She was huge on all the animals that were turned in there, looking for people to adopt them,” she said. “So being able to do that has been huge, giving these animals a home. They were so dear to her.”

To commemorate Tatum’s memory, and others who have died from suicide, a memorial wall and quiet room will be featured. People who have lost a loved one to suicide are encouraged to bring a photo and post it on the wall in remembrance.

“It feels like a safe place for them to come together, since we don’t have a lot of support left over for those of us who are left behind,” Ambrose-Eidson said. “And when you can come together and talk about it and not feel pressured, it doesn’t feel as bad.”

From noon to 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Royal Oak at 1314 Northwood Blvd., people of all ages can come and support Tate’s Joy. The event will also have a petting zoo, pony rides and more. Food trucks will be present at the event but are not free.

All proceeds and donations will be given to the Oakland County Animal Shelter, Detroit Dog Rescue, No Dogs Left Behind, and Kevin’s Song.