L to R: Elizabeth Meigher and Audrey Gruss
Photo Credit: Patrick McMullan/ PMC
(New York, NY – October 21, 2024) – Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF), the country’s leading depression research organization, celebrated the New York City Junior Committee at Doubles on Wednesday night.
The invitation-only reception was hosted by HDRF Founder and Chair Audrey Gruss and Elizabeth Meigher, Chair of the NYC HDRF Junior Committee, an energetic group of young professionals and parents dedicated to the future of mental health care in their communities.
The evening was attended by 150 guests who shared their passion for mental health awareness and rallied support for HDRF’s upcoming Annual HOPE Luncheon Seminar to be held November 12th at the Plaza Hotel. This year, the Luncheon will focus on “Trauma and Recovery: How the Brain Heals” and will honor actress, producer, director, and Joyful Heart Foundationfounder Mariska Hargitay. Proceeds from the HOPE Luncheon will fund groundbreaking research into the root causes of depression in the brain and new and better treatments.
Audrey Gruss said: “My mother, whose name was Hope, had depression and struggled with it for many decades of her life. It was not until my mother passed that I realized how great the depression crisis is and now today we see how it affects everyone, every race, religion, sex. Socioeconomic group and age, especially young people. She is the reason I started Hope for Depression Research Foundation in 2006.”
Elizabeth Meigher, Chair of the NYC HDRF Junior Committee, then took the floor to address the room. She spoke about how for her, optimism is an important antidote to anxiety.
She said: “Anxiety affects all of us, and our mind is a powerful tool. I realize it’s not easy, but you can commit to choosing optimism to re-frame events in your life and take control of your own narrative. This can be a positive step toward improved mental health. Of course, we also urgently need scale-able solutions for clinical depression. I thank Audrey Gruss for the hard work that she does to help people and fight the stigma related to things like depression and anxiety.”
The reception also featured a special viewing of the HDRF x KIP pajama capsule collection. The special HDRF edition sleepwear collection brings together KIP’s elevated design and buttery soft fabrics with HDRF’s signature colors of yellow and gray. The collection will feature the brand’s bestselling Luxe Stretch Cotton pajama set, Pure Cashmere Robe and Socks, and a luxurious Mulberry Silk eye mask. All the pieces can be monogrammed. Prices start at $40 and go to $435; a portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Foundation. View the collection here: https://sleepinkip.com/collections/kip-for-hdrf
Led by Chair Elizabeth Meigher, the Junior Committee Vice-Chairs included Callie Baker Holt, Melissa Breitbart, Joanna Goldenstein, Clementine Goutal, Gillian Hearst, Meghan & Adam Klopp, Harrison LeFrak, Amanda Mariner, Stacey Pashcow, Rick Kleeman & Debra Peltz, Stephane Sirota, Mary E. Snow and Sarah Wetenhall.
Committee members included Krista Corl, Judith Grey, Susan Potok Harrison, Brooke Kelly Murray, Isabella Meyer, Louisa Ryan, Ivy Sophir, Whitney Schott, and Jane Stevens.
Additional attendees included HDRF Vice President and Executive Director Louisa Benton, Bill Chin, Dori Cooperman, Mercedes de Guardiola, Mark Gilbertson, Elizabeth Kurpis, Geralyn Lucas, and Chris Meigher.
To purchase tables and tickets for the HOPE luncheon, please visit www.HopeForDepression.org/events
ABOUT HOPE FOR DEPRESSION RESEARCH FOUNDATION (HDRF)
HDRF was founded in 2006 by philanthropist Audrey Gruss in memory of her mother Hope, who struggled with clinical depression. The mission of the HDRF is to spur the most innovative brain 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. 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. HDRF is working tirelessly to improve the mental health landscape for every American. The Foundation has provided more than $85 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, and Stanford University. HDRF is also funding clinical trials into other novel therapeutics and diagnostic tests at Johns Hopkins, University of San Diego, and the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
