Herren Project’s annual Empowerment Appeal, Making Waves in the Fight Against Addiction, is underway. This year, we are celebrating the power each of us can create to make positive changes in the fight against addiction. Herren Project is fortunate to have many “wavemakers” in our community. This year, we celebrate five people creating ripples in their communities and waves of change nationwide.
Herren Project Community Members Creating Ripples of Impact
Brady Eagan – Empowering Peers
Brady has put his passion for preventing substance misuse into action by starting a Herren Project Club at his high school in New Jersey. His high school club is now Herren Project’s biggest club.
Brady served as a Herren Project Youth Ambassador in his junior and senior years of high school. At the start of his senior year, he was elected president, leading 13 young people across the country alongside Herren Project’s Youth Engagement Specialist. In January 2024, when Herren Project’s Youth Engagement Specialist stepped down, he was hired to fill the role. Brady inspires and empowers his peers every day at school and nationwide by example. He is a natural leader and strives to inspire his peers to live healthy, positive lives and not be afraid to share their stories.
“I think people should celebrate therapy more and hitting those milestones. Because therapy is good for your mental health, and although the path to a healthy mind is not always linear, being in therapy and staying in therapy is proof you are still trying and still pushing, and you want that for yourself.” Brady
Holly Gifford – Healing Through Community
Holly found Herren Project in 2015 after losing her husband Matt to the disease of addiction. Participating in Team Herren Project and Herren Project’s online grief support group, Holly found healing and hope in the waters of Herren Project.
Herren Project has given her a renewed sense of purpose. She is an inspiring member of the Herren Project, acting as an ambassador striving to connect others to find support for addiction and help raise positive awareness and break the stigma. She has raised thousands of dollars to support our critical work and help make recovery and healing possible for others, including herself.
Now that her children are older, she is grateful for the opportunity that her connection with Herren Project has also provided regarding communication with her children and peers. It has allowed for conversation around mental health and substance use disorder that she knows she never would have had.
“Herren Project has allowed me to grieve, give back, and honor and remember Matt in a positive and meaningful light.” Holly
Jodi Sylvester – Paying it Forward
When Jodi found Herren Project, she thought it was too late to find a life in recovery. With Herren Project’s support and belief in her, our team provided treatment navigation and a recovery scholarship.
Jodi grew up with a good family and excellent grades but struggled with self-esteem. She started self-medicating with drugs at age 11. Her program has helped her understand she was uncomfortable in her own skin. Today, she celebrates over seven years of recovery. She lives every day focused on the solution and is proud to identify as a person in recovery.
She now gives back what was given to her by working at a treatment center and supporting others on their journey. She encourages others who feel shame from making the same decisions she did that recovery is possible. She hopes that by sharing her story and remaining invested in the program, she can reach just one person. Thanks to Herren Project, she has that chance every 24 hours.
“Addiction affects everyone. It doesn’t matter where you come from or who you are.” Jodi
The Malone Family – Turning Grief into Purpose
Herren Project walked with Matthew Malone on his recovery journey for years, providing vital treatment navigation and recovery scholarships. Sadly, on October 6, 2017, Matthew passed away due to a drug overdose.
Losing their son and brother Matthew to an overdose was overwhelming, but the Malone family quickly came together to not only keep Matthew’s legacy alive but to save one family from the pain they experienced. The Malone family holds the MPM Golf tournament in July every year at Pleasant Valley Country Club to keep his legacy alive. Their dedication has created a ripple effect, raising nearly $100,000 and impacting countless lives. This year’s event happens next week, July 8, and will raise critical funds for this year’s Empowerment Appeal.
Matthew’s sister Jenna has also gone one step further. She was a Herren Project Youth Ambassador her senior year and started the first Herren Project Club at her high school in Massachusetts. She also made it her mission to bring Chris Herren to her high school before she graduated. She worked with the school to find grant funds to make it possible and ensure her peers heard his story. The Malone family has turned their grief into purpose and is saving lives.
“Our son Matthew may not have survived the disease of addiction, but we are grateful to keep his memory alive with the Herren Project, praying to give one person a second chance.” Mike Malone
Teresa Cobleigh – Turning Pain into Passion
Teresa is a mother who has been through the struggles of addiction and recovery with her two sons. She felt alone in her struggles until she found Herren Project. At Herren Project, she found understanding and support through her family support group. She has worked at Herren Project since 2020, currently in the role of Strategy and Communications Director.
She sadly lost her sons to the disease of addiction, Graham in 2014 and Spencer in 2023. Since losing her second son in May 2023, she has been creating waves in her home state of Colorado. Putting her pain into passion, she has joined numerous task forces and committees, testified at the state capitol, and advocated for the passage of a law allowing students to carry life-saving medication in school. Teresa puts her experience, strength, and hope into action every day to help others like herself, help those like her sons, and make the world a better place.
“Herren Project provided a sense of community, so I did not feel alone. I felt embraced by a huge hug of others who shared this journey. I hope my experience, strength, and wisdom can be an inspiration to other people like me and my sons because everyone deserves to thrive.” Teresa
From Ripple to Wave – Creating Community Impact
It is estimated that for every person battling a substance use disorder, an average of 5-7 more individuals are impacted. As of 2022, there have been 48.7 million Americans aged 12 years and older documented with a substance use disorder. Consider the impact on an average of 6 people. This means an estimated 292 million have been adversely affected by addiction. That statistic is a staggering 88% of the U.S. population.
One Life Has the Power to Change 6 More
Herren Project has walked with 19,908 individuals and family members on their recovery journey, and another 114,738 people of all ages are actively involved in our prevention and wellness initiatives throughout the United States.
Since 2011, your donations have directly supported, inspired, and empowered 134,646 people, positively impacting at least 807,876. And those are just the ripple effects. Every person’s story matters. Every contribution, no matter the size, is crucial. Together we have created a momentum that is gaining strength and sparking positive change in the battle against addiction.
Will you ride the wave with us and donate to the 2024 Empowerment Appeal today?
