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Mom Hugs at UCF
A hug is equivalent to a thousand words…without saying a word at all. That’s what […]
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Our Mission and Vision
Our Mission To save lives from suicide by creating a platform for conversations, sharing life-saving […]
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You Matter 5K
Thanks to Ty Pope, senior at Edgewood Jr. Sr. High School, more than $6,000 was […]
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You Matter Lacrosse Alumni Game
26 “retired” MIHS Lacrosse Alumni gathered together under the lights at the “O-Dome” the night […]
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Out of Darkness Walk 2024
We joined up with the Anderson Pack this year to walk for all those we’ve […]
email to admin@doitforhunter.org
Do It For Hunter
Dedicated to Suicide
Awareness and Prevention
Let’s Make Things Happen
Hunter was the most normal 18 year old there was. There was no warning, no blaring signs, he just had a bad moment that sparked a lot of feelings he was holding in, things he couldn’t, wouldn’t talk about, and we lost him to suicide. That’s the story.
We had the choice. Be silent, or do something. We decided as a group of friends and family to do something, to do it for Hunter.
Suicide is a community problem. It’s too easy to shove it under a rug, to dismiss it as “that would never happen in my family.” It can. But we need to stay a step ahead because it’s an invisible disease of the mind. As a community we need to insure our youth know where they can turn, how to reach out for help, and they need the tools at a young age so that they know what to do when their brain lies to them and tells them they don’t matter.
Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the Helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” That’s what we believe too. And to take it a step further, we ALL can be helpers. Instead of waiting for someone else to reach out to you, you reach in to someone who may be struggling. Thank you to all our volunteers, and to those who believe in what we do. We do it for Hunter and for everyone who needs to be reminded that they matter.
Have A Seat…Let’s Talk
Merritt Island High School was the first recipient of our You Matter bench. It sits in the student commons area and has the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline engraved on it to help students at MIHS remember help is just a call or text away. Shout out to Eastern Florida State College! They allowed us to place a bench on EACH of their 4 campuses! In addition, Florida Tech’s Parent Leadership Council spearheaded the initiative to get suicide awareness benches placed throughout their campus! We’ve purchased and installed benches at many parks around Brevard County, and we continue to do even more!
Did you know on average 1,100 college students are lost to suicide EVERY YEAR! Are you kidding me? One is one too many. We have to help make a change. They need to know how to ask for help.
From FL to WI
Our family in Wisconsin has raised thousands of dollars from generous donors who want to help spread the You Matter Do It for Hunter message in their communities of Osseo and Fall Creek. These are very small towns with huge hearts. They’ve lost too many in their communities, and they know they need to do something to help save lives. Their two small high schools now have five You Matter benches to remind their students that they matter.
988 Lifeline Stickers on All Brevard Public Schools Laptops
I had a wish that every kid’s laptop had a You Matter sticker on it. Brevard Public Schools took a giant step in supporting our You Matter movement by allowing us to do it! Designed by a former student and friend, now all BPS student laptops in grades 6-12 have a You Matter 988 Lifeline sticker. Thank you for making my wish come true, but most importantly, thank you for saving a life.
UCF Mom Hugs Day
A simple hug….human connection….and a smile, that’s what Mom Hugs Day is all about. Our “Mom Squad” grew to 50 moms who spread out on the UCF campus and dished out smiles and hugs, and a few tears. These young adults gave us back more than we gave. It was epic, and so meaningful, and the best day of the year for us!
FAU Mom Hugs Day
Thanks to our Mom Squad for all their help spreading love and mom hugs to the students at Florida Atlantic University Boca Campus! Arranged by Abbie Shepard who started the FAU Do It For Hunter Club at FAU, we surprised the students as they traveled the Breezeway. They were pleasantly surprised to have many moms ready willing and able to share a hug! We love our college students and know they may be missing their moms, so here we are!
You Matter Day 2025
What a fun day! Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the day with us for our 4th Annual You Matter Day! Many thanks to our sponsors, donors, the Space Coast Jeep Club, Dixie Cruisers and all the resources and schools and more who helped make the day impactful for our island. 69 runners and walkers kicked off the day with the Mustang Mile. The message for the day? YOU MATTER! Our young people especially need to be reminded of this. We hope this day positively affected just one life. That’s our goal.
5K Fun Run
Thanks to Ty Pope, Senior at Edgewood Jr. Sr. High School, for dedicating his Senior Project to Do It For Hunter. He organized a 5K Fun Run to raise funds for a suicide awareness bench at his school. 107 people registered and enjoyed a beautiful morning in Viera at Urban Prime Marketplace. While doing so, he brought awareness to suicide and mental health. Thank you Ty for your hard work, perseverance, and heart.
Superintendent Gets Dunked for Suicide Awareness
Dr. Rendell, Superintendent for Brevard Public Schools volunteered in the dunk tank at our 2024 You Matter Day at Merritt Island High School.
“Thank you so much for including us in the event. The community support is a reflection of the importance of the the efforts you and your team are making to help all of our young people feel valued. “You Matter” is a simple but extremely powerful message. Any amount of time and effort we can contribute is quite small compared to what you have poured into this effort.” Dr. Rendell, Superintendent of Brevard Public Schools
Donation from Audrey Brown Family
Beautiful Audrey Darby Brown loved adventures, walking around Wickham Park, and she loved her family. When she passed, she trusted her family to pass along a donation to a local suicide prevention organization. Do It For Hunter was blessed and we truly thank the family for trusting us to help her donation to save a life. Thank you Audrey and family.
Let’s work Together to Strengthen Our Communities and Change the statistics
We are a grassroots group of family and friends working together, working local, with a goal to save a life.
Encore Performance Company Dances and Donates
Hundreds of hours went into learning the show A Dance Beyond the Reef. These dancers from Encore Performance Company in Merritt Island poured their heart into this performance, which included singing, acting and dancing. It was not only beyond the reef, but BEYOND AMAZING! They donated half of all money raised from this show to Do It For Hunter, amounting to over $6,000! They chose us for their charity this year out of love and the work that we do right here in our community. I’m STILL blown away. Thank you does not say enough to all the people who dedicated so much time and talent. But thank you from our hearts.
Walnut Hills Elementary in Michigan Hosts You Matter Day
The “Bloom” after school club put on their first annual You Matter Day to spread important uplifting messages throughout the school. Bloom is a group comprised of 5th grade girls who are dedicated to encouraging young girls to help them feel proud of who they are. Do It For Hunter Board Member Teresa Nord, her Bloom girls and the Walnut Hills staff organized the day with special messages for the students throughout the day, including posting positive messages on every locker, read alouds throughout the day, and so much more. The school was filled with positive messages and the colors purple and teal took over the school. Thank you Teresa, Bloom and Walnut Hills for helping to share the You Matter message!
Merritt Island Christmas Parade
We brought home the 1st place trophy in Civic Category in this year’s Christmas Parade! Thanks to the Anderson Family for all their help in making this year’s holiday parade AMAZING and for helping to share the You Matter message with our Island!
FAU Honors Campus Forms Do It For Hunter Club
Abbie Sheppard graduated from Edgewood Jr. Sr. High and is currently studying neuroscience and Mathematics as part of a BS/MD program at the FAU Honors College in Jupiter, FL. On top of her strenuous college classes, she volunteers as a crisis counselor on the 988 Crisis Text Line. Abbie started the Do It For Hunter Club at FAU to educate her local community about the topic of suicide and mental health. She supports our mission of spreading awareness of the 988 suicide hotline as a method that could someday save a life. More than 30 students so far have signed up for the club which plans to have activities around suicide awareness and mental health for the students. And she is planning an on-campus You Matter event for the students at FAU. How awesome is THAT!
“You Matter Night at Mustang Stadium
Thanks to everyone who came out to support our “Purple Out” for suicide awareness at the O-Dome. From the cheerleaders decked out in purple, to the football players with purple ribbons on their helmets, your support is always appreciated beyond words. We passed out hundreds of stickers and bracelets to attendees, and the cheer squad shared some very cool purple sunglasses too! Thank you always for your support and for helping us spread the You Matter message.
Bringing You Matter to our Neighborhoods
It’s more than just words. “You Matter” is a movement we’ve started to make sure everyone knows they mean the world to someone. We feel if we save just one life, then we’ve done our job. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! We are sharing resources and positive messages!
“You Matter” message
We love handing out our stickers and bracelets. They are always FREE! We are able to do this because of our generous donors. Ask about getting some for your class or organization.
Purple Out Volleyball at MIHS
Thank you to the Lady Mustangs Volleyball team for supporting Do It For Hunter and hosting a Purple Out in support of suicide awareness. The MIHS gym turned purple for the night covered in purple and teal balloons. Special thanks to everyone who put this together!
Suicide Awareness Benches at All EFSC Campuses
Thank you to Eastern Florida State College for allowing us to place a Suicide Awareness bench at EACH of its 4 campuses in Brevard County. These benches were donated from donations received through the Do It For Hunter organization.
Benches at the Schools
We are excited to be spreading the You Matter message on benches and placing them at various schools around out community! Both Jefferson Middle School and Audubon Elementary recently received You Matter benches to help remind students that they matter and how to reach out for help. More to come!
Free Stickers & Bracelets
Donate Today and Be a Part of Saving A Life
Do It for Hunter hosts “You Matter” events throughout Merritt Island and the surrounding communities. We have distributed thousands of our signature teal bracelets and round “You Matter” stickers with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number. Look for our stickers everywhere! (It’s kinda like a scavenger hunt!) We’ve spread awareness by participating in the Merritt Island Christmas Parade, we partner with Sources of Strength at MIHS, and we’ve purchased suicide awareness benches for Merritt Island High and all four campuses of Eastern Florida State College. But we have SO MUCH more to do. It’s all about saving just one life. It matters.
2025 Goals:
- Offer Free Mom Hugs Day at additional colleges
- Host “You Matter” days at Merritt Island schools
- Host Annual “You Matter” day in Merritt Island
- Distribute free stickers and bracelets to youth
- Host free “You Matter Teen Night”
- Suicide Awareness Benches at additional schools
- Participate in the Merritt Island Christmas Parade
- Donate via Venmo, gofundme, PayPal with debit or credit card, or by check made payable to Do It For Hunter, Inc, (mail to 1655 Yates Dr. Merritt Island, FL 32952)
Looking for help? Check out these
Resources
More to come!
These are provided as a courtesy. Do It For Hunter, Inc. does not sponsor or endorse any organization.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress. Provides prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Call or TEXT 988
211 Brevard
Provides immediate assistance to Brevard residents and connects people to community resources in times of personal, financial and community crisis.
AFSP
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides resources for help, inspiration, real life stories, and statistics on suicide. Connect with a Chapter near you.
SAMHSA
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. It provides help, resources, training and more.
FloridaHealth. Gov
Provides information and resources for Florida residents including women’s and children’s health, disabilities, minority and community health, and much more.
Mental Health America
Dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention. Our work is informed, designed, and led by the lived experience of those most affected.
Suicide Grief Support
Health First offers free suicide grief support sessions from 6-7:30 pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays in Melbourne at 1131 W. New Haven Ave, and the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays in Merritt Island at 220 S Courtenay Pkwy. No registration required. Call 321-434-3008 for information.
Brevard Counseling
Brevard Counseling, LLC offers local counseling services in Brevard, including Play Therapy, Couples Counseling, Addictions and more, and is a proud supporter of Do It For Hunter. Call 321-323-9069.
True You Always
True You Always offers many types of counseling and life coaching services, and also is a proud supporter of Do It For Hunter. Call them at 321-613-8685
Women’s Center of Brevard
Their mission is to help women, men & children who have faced trauma related to domestic violence, mental health and sexual assault.
Palm Point Behavioral Health
Their mission is to meet the needs of their patients and their families during their time of crisis. They take a patient-centered approach and promote their core values of respect, integrity, compassion, and excellence in the care they provide to each patient that comes through their doors.
Just Breathe
You’ve Got This
Statistics
Let’s Help Improve the Statistics
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people age 15-24.
UCLA Health
Today, we will lose 12 people age 15-24 to suicide.
On average, 1,100 college students are lost to suicide in the United States each year.
Suicide has increased 60% since 2011 among US youth
CDC Report
22% of high school students surveyed said they had seriously considered suicide within the past year
PEWtrusts.org
NEWS