(New York, NY –October 26, 2022) – Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF), the country’s leading depression research organization, celebrated the official launch of the New York City Junior Committee at Doubles on Wednesday night.
The invitation-only kickoff reception was hosted by HDRF Founder and Chair Audrey Gruss and Elizabeth Meigher, Chair of the newly formed committee, an energetic group of young professionals and parents dedicated to the future of mental health care in their communities.
Elizabeth Meigher said: “Depression is something that in some form touches everybody and it’s something that’s affected me, so thank you all for being here tonight. Since the pandemic, depression directly affects one out of three Americans and indirectly affects everybody.”
Meigher then introduced a short video, where HDRF’s acclaimed Depression Task Force, an international consortium of top neuroscientists from different universities, who are compiling data and expertise to accelerate research, shared the organization’s vital mission.
Audrey Gruss said: “Our Depression Task Force’s collaborative effort has led to a potential major new category of drug to go to clinical trial, and is being tested at Mount Sinai, Columbia and Stanford University. This new drug can potentially help the 35-50% of people who don’t respond to the conventional medications available today. Preliminary results from the trial are amazing, with over 80% of our trial patients reporting remission from their depression.”
The evening welcomed over 125 guests, as they connected over their commitment to raise mental health awareness, and rallied member support for the upcoming annual HOPE Luncheon seminar to be held November 9th at the Plaza Hotel. This year, the luncheon will focus on Teens and Depression: Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis and honor gold medalist Aly Raisman, as well as philanthropists and generous supporters of HDRF, Jamee and Peter Gregory. Proceeds from the HOPE Luncheon will fund groundbreaking research into the root causes of depression in the brain and new and better treatments.
Led by Chair Elizabeth Meigher, the Junior Committee Co-Chairs included Krista & James Corl, Lindsay Creedon, Nicole Hanley Pickett, Gillian Hearst, Meghan & Adam Klopp, Harrison LeFrak, Avery McCann, Stacey Pashcow, Lila Remez, Sofia Remez, Lara & Claude Shaw, Stephanie A. Sirota, Mary Snow and Sarah & Andrew Wetenhall.
Committee members included Joanna Baker de Neufville, Callie Baker Holt, Lizzi Bickford Meadow & Todd Meadow, Clementine Goutal, Julia Kingsley, Elizabeth Kurpis, Whitney Lovell Schott, Amanda and Ted Mariner, Isabella Meyer, Brooke Kelly Murray & Patrick Murray and Tatiana G.P. Perkin.
Additional attendees included Vice President and Executive Director, Louisa Benton, HDRF Advisory Board member Scott Snyder, Mark Gilbertson, Kara Ross and Grace and Chris Meigher.
The event was generously underwritten by Madison Worth Architects and Scott Snyder Interior Design.
About Hope for Depression Research Foundation:
Audrey Gruss founded HDRF in 2006 in memory of her mother Hope, who struggled with clinical depression. Today, HDRF is the leading nonprofit organization focused solely on advanced depression research into new and better treatments for the illness. The World Health Organization has declared depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide, and yet conventional medications today are outdated and do not fully work for 50% of patients. The mission of the HDRF is to spur innovative neuroscience research into the origins, medical diagnosis, new treatments, and prevention of depression and its related mood disorders – bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and suicide. To date, HDRF has provided more than $45 million through over 200 grants for breakthrough depression research that promises to transform the way depression is viewed, diagnosed, treated and prevented. Currently, HDRF has a potential new class of medication in pilot clinical trials at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Columbia University and Stanford University.
