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About the Nonprofit

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Every 2 years, Vermont students are asked to complete the Vermont Risk Behavior survey. 2021 data found 30% high school and 21% middle school kids felt sad or hopeless almost every day for at least 2 weeks for the past 12 months. The survey also found 14% of high school kids had a suicide plan and 7% had made a suicide attempt, relative to 13% and 6% middle school kids.

The personal why:
We lost our 17 year old son Paul to suicide October 8, 2018. We had no idea he struggled and that suicide was an option. He was a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School, in Hinesburg, VT.

Now, it is our mission to:
offer courage for teens to say "I need help" and
provide tools and skills to kids k-12 in Vermont schools (see: https://projecthoeppner.com/outreach).

Where the money goes:
Presently, teachers in 24 Vermont schools use the mindfulness tool Inner Explorer in their classroom, at no expense to them or their school.

We have screened nearly 7K shirts (in our home) to promote awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health, and open the door to difficult conversations.