The 6th annual HOPE for TomorROW (H4T) event was held on Saturday, June 22, 2024. And for the sixth year DRM was a proud sponsor, participant and fundraising leader in this event.
The firm and its people have deep personal ties to Project HOePpnEr and their efforts to promote opportunities for teens and their loved ones to connect and help open doors to conversations about mental wellness and suicide, kindness and belonging, recovery and HOPE. Project HOePpnEr was born in 2018 after Paul Hoeppner, a CVU high school student (and son of a former DRM colleague), died by suicide. Paul’s love of rowing is the inspiration behind HOPE for TomorROW, which raises money for teen suicide awareness and prevention efforts by Project HOePpnEr.
In the HOPE for TomorROW fundraising event participants row two-miles (round-trip) across Lake Champlain, beginning and ending at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes. DRM employees formed two teams comprised of co-workers and family members – Teams Motley Crew and GoodHope. With additional help from co-workers, family and friends, the teams were able to raise a total of $4,305 for the cause, helping H4T exceed their $24,000 fundraising goal. DRM’s teams ranked as the #1 fundraisers on the leaderboard.
DRM Legal Administrative Assistant Tina Rabideau coordinated the firm’s involvement. She notes, “Seeing the life-size cardboard silhouettes of the 123 individuals who died of suicide in Vermont last year as our teams walked the path down to the water was an incredibly moving and poignant illustration of this tragedy. That being said, participating in the H4T event each year brings me great joy because it allows me to support and encourage the Hoeppner family and many others who have lost their loved ones to suicide, as well as to help raise awareness in our community. It’s awesome to witness how this event draws people of all ages and walks of life together to share their experiences and to help bring hope to others.”
Project HOePpnEr’s theme for the 2024 row was Be Water…Flow. These words were printed on the event t-shirts, with the words Be Water printed on the front, and Flow (in Paul Hoeppner’s handwriting) printed on the back. Teams Motley Crew and GoodHope “flowed” with this theme, and earned Honorable Mention for Team Spirit with their Row with the Flow-ers hats and props.
Suicide Prevention Rocks (#SPR)
Beyond the friendly competition and raising awareness about teen suicide, H4T features unique hand-painted Suicide Prevention Rocks (#SPR). Suicide Prevention Rocks is a Facebook page under the Joshua York Legacy Foundation. It started as an art therapy program and has become a support community for those who have been touched by suicide. The rocks carry messages of inspiration, hope, and care and are offered to be held, shared or hidden for another to find.
The rocks are always a big hit for H4T event-goers, and this year was no different. DRM family and friends painted and contributed more than 130 rocks! A few of them are pictured below.