On Friday, November 15, the Fishers Rotary Club presented a $20,000 donation to Project Hope, an organization dedicated to providing scholarship funding and facilitating access to school-based mental health services for students in Hamilton Southeastern Schools (HSE).
The presentation, made by Justin Hirnisey, Executive Director of the HSE Education Foundation, and Molly Kerwan, Mental Health Coordinator at HSE Schools, highlighted the critical need for such services and the positive impact of their efforts. Hirnisey shared that, in the previous year, over $200,000 in grant money had been distributed to help students who could not afford mental health services due to lack of insurance.
The donation follows the annual golf outing organized by the Fishers Rotary Club, which has been held since 2021 to support underserved youth and their mental health needs. Tad Bristow, co-chair of the golf outing, emphasized the importance of reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, stating, “It’s important that we help to remove the stigma of mental health, and we are proud to play a small role in helping Project Hope achieve its goals.”
Kerwan addressed the growing need for mental health support, noting that reports to the Department of Child Services (DCS) and suicide risk assessments nearly doubled this year compared to last. Despite the increase in cases, she expressed satisfaction that every student in need was connected with services through Project Hope’s robust support system.
Kerwan explained that many students are facing pressures stemming from personal expectations to perform, a lack of basic needs, and anxiety—issues that are further exacerbated by the influence of social media. In addition to supporting students, Project Hope also provides assistance to parents as they help their children navigate these challenges.
Looking ahead, Project Hope is planning a fundraising event for February 2025, which is tentatively scheduled to be held at the new Fishers Event Center. The event will continue to raise awareness and funds to support the mental health needs of students in the community.
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