Over 300 Participants Raise $275,000 at Inaugural Palm Beach Race of HOPE

Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s Palm Beach Event to Raise Research Funds and Awareness

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Mother Nature tried but failed to deter hundreds of intrepid souls who came out in pouring rain and hurricane wind for the Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s (HDRF) Inaugural Palm Beach Race of Hope 5K on Sunday, January 27, 2019.

While a nearby state fair saw a rare closing for weather, more than 300 participants of all ages gathered at 8AM at Palm Beach’s Royal Poinciana Plaza to walk or run the 5K Race and take a stand for depression awareness. The crowd included Inside Edition‘s Deborah Norville, Martin Gruss, Bill Bone, Michael Donnell, Tatiana and Campion Platt, Felicia Taylor, Carlos Morrison, and Tom and Clelia Zacharias.

The 3.1-mile Race began at The Royal Poinciana Plaza, the event’s lead sponsor, and continued along the North Lake Trail and through the streets of Palm Beach. Along the way, participants were greeted by signs with words of encouragement from celebrities, including Anderson Cooper, Lorraine Bracco and Brooke Shields, who have been honored by HDRF for speaking out about depression.

Hope was in abundant supply as everybody wore bright tech shirts and matching caps in HDRF’s signature sunshine yellow. The USA Track and Field-sanctioned event raised over $275,000 to fund groundbreaking research into the causes of depression in the brain and new and better treatments.

Meanwhile, just across the bridge in West Palm Beach, the South Florida Fair was closed for weather for the first time in over ten years.

Speaking from the starting line, HDRF Founder and Chair Audrey Gruss said, “There is a native American saying that says, ‘Anybody who thinks sunshine creates happiness has never danced in the rain. Depression is the number-one reason in the world for disability, and the leading cause of suicide.”

Scott Snyder, who along with Audrey Gruss was a Race Co-Grand Marshal, then added: “So we want to thank you all for coming out to dance in the rain with us today.  Our research is leading to discoveries that can turn the tide on depression and suicide in this country.”

Following the race, Audrey Gruss and Scott Snyder presented medals for best times in various age categories. John Schilkowsky won the best time in the Adult Male category, Stephanie Pezzullo won best time in the Adult Female category, and Dylan Pitchford took home the Youth award. Gruss then presented awards to the top individual fundraiser Trish Glowacki, and an award for Top Fundraising TeamSister Sledge, which included Trish Glowacki, Kimberly Bitterman and Kristina McCooey.

Momentum for the Race grew in the run-up with the Week of Hope – an initiative that launched on January 18 when 40 business owners at The Royal Poinciana Plaza placed a two-foot wide yellow statement balloon by their front door to symbolize hope and their commitment to changing the statistics around depression.

The message was amplified by activities held throughout the week. SoulCycle hosted a Week of Hope ride and Michael Kors Collection hosted an exclusive shopping event where 20% of proceeds were donated HDRF.

The Race of Hope comes to Palm Beach Race as part of a multi-city expansion after three years of success in Southampton, NY. The next Race of Hope will take place in New York City on April 7, 2019. It will then continue in Southampton in the summer.

The Race of HOPE was supported by its Committee: Donna and William Acquavella, Julie Araskog, Mashi and Manucher Azmudeh, Bruce Bierman and William Secord, Robert Bishop, James Borynackand Adolfo Zaralegui, Janet and J.J. Cafaro, Annabelle and Denis Coleman, Howard Cox, Deborah and Philippe Dauman, Mrs. Marvin Davidson, Jackie Weld Drake, Diana and Llwyd Ecclestone, Michaeland Annie Falk, Tina Fanjul, Alexander Federbush, Frances and Jeffrey Fisher, William Flaherty, Gay and Stanley Gaines, Susie and Vere Gaynor, Judith Giuliani, Roni and Gerry Goldsmith, Mrs. Todd Goodwin, Darcy Gould, Myrna Haft, Mai Hallingby, Alexia Hamm Ryan, Ira and Nicki Harris, Mr. & Mrs. Charles B. Johnson, Y. Michele Kang, Eleanora Kennedy, Iris and William Kontes, Dr. Ernst andNataly Langner, Ambassador and Mrs. Howard Leach, Susan Lloyd, Karin Luter, Carol Mack, Nicola and Jeff Marcus, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Susan and Joseph Meyer, Muffy and Donald Miller, Reneeand Carlos Morrison, Lucy Musso, Linda Olsson, Jeff Pfeifle and Dave Granville, Amy and John Phelan, Sallie Phillips, Pauline Pitt, Dan Ponton, Tom Quick, Hilary Geary Ross, Frances Scaife, Dan andMary Stanton, Debbie and Jack Thomas, Lis Waterman, Lynne Wheat and Thomas Petterfy, Clelia and Thomas Zacharias, and Jere Zenko. The Race of Hope Junior Committee is Loy Anderson, Bettina Anderson, Samantha Cerny, Tanner Cline, Nick Coniglio, Andres Fanjul, Blayre Farakas, Sean Flannery, Brandy Billinghurst, Sabra Kirpatrick, Wyatt Koch, Robert Leidy, Chris Levitt, Whitney McGurk,Brandon Phillips, Robert Riva, Nic Roldan, and David Thompson.\

Audrey Gruss founded HDRF in April 2006 in memory of her mother Hope, who struggled with clinical depression. Today, HDRF is the leading nonprofit organization focused solely on depression research and public education. The World Health Organization has declared depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide, but despite its prevalence, depression is still misunderstood, underfunded and under-researched. The mission of the HDRF is to fund 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 $30-million through over 125 grants for breakthrough depression research that promises to transform the way depression is viewed, diagnosed, treated and prevented.

What is HDRF, and a quick overview of their work/achievements in past decade:

What Makes HDRF Different

• The Depression Task Force represents the most innovative approach to neuroscience research today.
• The Task Force has created an unprecedented research plan with each member executing a piece of the plan in their own laboratories. They are not going down well-worn paths of research. They have identified major challenges in the field and are laser focused on the areas where the field is stuck.
• They share results in real time at a centralized data bank. This allows them to leverage data to accelerate research. This is unheard of in the entire scientific research field which is normally competitive and not collaborative.

About The Royal Poinciana Plaza

The Royal Poinciana Plaza is an iconic destination that serves as a jewel box oasis in the heart of beautiful Palm Beach. Built in the late 1950s, it stands today as a landmarked property and one of Palm Beach’s most treasured architectural gems. With 180,000 square feet of retail space and lush, sprawling gardens, it offers a unique international shopping and entertainment destination for indulgence, inspiration, and retreat. Designed by world-renowned architect John Volk, The Royal echoes some of Europe’s legendary retail destinations like the Palais Royal in Paris. The property has been carefully restored to its original mid-century glamour while remaining true to its retail roots. Its offerings will include a unique mix of luxury retail, fashion, dining and entertainment, along with amenities for both local and international visitors.  Arranged around two beautiful courtyards with outdoor furniture, palm trees and gardens, The Royal provides a destination for guests to enjoy outdoor events, read the paper, sip a coffee, gather with family and friends, shop or dine. For more information, visit www.theroyalpoincianaplaza.com or discover more on Instagram @theroyalpoincianaplaza.