Five-hundred people gathered on Oct. 18 for Restoring Hope, a gala event at the University of Washington to honor the vision, work, and five-year anniversary of Forefront Suicide Prevention.

Raising nearly $220,000, Restoring Hope set Forefront on the path for new suicide prevention milestones in Washington state.

In the past year, Forefront trained over 7,000 individuals in suicide prevention; teamed with 43 partners to build and launch the Safer Homes, Suicide Aware campaign; helped to pass HB 1612, which strengthened the Safer Homes initiative, and launched a second Forefront in the Schools cohort serving 15 schools.

The evening’s theme of rebuilding hope came alive through stories of journeying from pain and grief into learning and recovery.

• University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce spoke by video: “We need whole communities, especially those in rural areas, to be engaged in suicide prevention efforts. One of the things I love about Forefront is that they have been able to forge these kinds of partnerships.”
• KUOW reporter Bill Radke reprised his award-winning NPR interview with brothers Arthur and Galen Emery about a suicide intervention. “When you break your leg, you get sympathy and people helping you get a glass of water,” said Arthur, who intervened years ago after finding Galen’s suicide note. “But when you break your spirit, people retreat.”
• Ben Hecko, a recent Bishop Blanchet High School graduate who taught freshman and sophomore PE students LEARN™, shared that the Forefront in the Schools program has had an “enormous impact on students across the city.”
• Forefront Community Organizer Laura Philip, MSW, told her story through “Soar,” a video of surviving suicide attempts and moving forward into recovery and a productive life.
• “Forefront has been pivotal in my healing,” shared Susan Peck, who connected with Forefront Cares after losing her son to suicide. She urged guests to support the ongoing work to save lives.

University of Washington students Jonathan Nguyen (UW Political Science and Law, Societies & Justice) and Rob Jones (UW Medicine) each sang, backed by David Applebaum on keyboard.

2017 Award Winners Honored

Recipients of 2017 Champions of Change Awards were honored:

• Bill Radke and Matt Martin of KUOW received the Excellence in Coverage of Mental Health and Suicide Award for the radio interview “What to do if a loved one is thinking about suicide.”
• David Yamashita and Kathleen Gilligan received the Tina Orwall Public Service Award for courage in turning their suicide loss into social change, sparing others from the tragedy of suicide.
• Senator Joe Fain received the Legislator of the Year Award for his consistent and valuable behind-the scenes work in the Washington State Senate to ensure suicide prevention legislation moves forward.
• Anna Ratzliff, M.D. Ph.D., received the Sue Eastgard Training Excellence Award for her tireless work to build All Patients Safe, a new University of Washington suicide prevention training for medical professionals.

Sponsors and matching pool donors 

These generous sponsors set a new record for corporate giving for Forefront’s event:

Nintendo, Delta Dental, DLA Piper, Washington State Pharmacy Association, University of Washington School of Social Work, The University of Washington College of Education, Coluccio Law, Premera, Recovery Innovations International, Associated General Contractors of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital, The Second Amendment Foundation, and University of Washington School of Nursing.

Forefront is grateful to every supporter. You may donate here.