The Race Of Hope Draws over 1200 Participants to Bradley Park to Raise Mental Health Awareness; Scott Snyder and Audrey Gruss at the Start Line
By: Margaux Rowan
On Saturday, February 15, 2025, the Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) celebrated the Seventh Anniversary of its Race of Hope 5K Walk & Run to Defeat Depression in Palm Beach at Bradley Park. The event gathered over 1200 men, women, and children on Saturday morning in Palm Beach to support mental health awareness and urgent research into depression and anxiety.
The festive event raised over $1,000,000, breaking all previous records, for HDRF’s advanced life-saving mental health research into new treatments for clinical depression. The presenting sponsor for the event was Findlay Galleries.
HDRF Founding Chair Audrey Gruss and Advisory Board Member Scott Snyder, both Palm Beach residents, served as the Co-Grand Marshals of the 5K walk/run, which started at 8 AM at Bradley Park in Palm Beach.
“The stars are all aligned,” said Gruss. “The sun is going to be here any second. We have the most amazing crowd here today for the Hope for Depression Research Foundation. Many of you have asked what we can do for Hope for Depression. Well, you are doing it by being here. You’re showing the visibility of the cause. You’re showing that you care. You’re showing the media that you care and that this is a cause worth coming out for.”
At the starting gun, participants set off to complete the 3.1-mile course at Bradley Park as they took in the beautiful views of the Palm Beach Lake Trail.
Initially, corrals were professional runners, casual walkers, families with children and dogs, and teams from the local community, such as Ladies of Dunbar, Le Bilboquet, Oxbridge Academy, Palm Beach Day Academy, The Carriage House, and The Colony.
All race participants wore custom-designed jackets, shirts, and hats in HDRF’s signature yellow, creating a sea of sunshine with blue skies and palm trees as their backdrop. The Race of Hope is a USA Track and Field-sanctioned event.
At the close of the Race, Audrey Gruss presented Awards to the top finishers and the top fundraisers. The top Overall Male winner was Sean Clark, and the top Overall Female winner was Niki Desjardin. The Award for Top Fundraising Team went to Team Le Bilboquet, which raised $18,000. The Award for Top Individual Fundraiser from the Palm Beach Race of Hope Committee went to Mona Nasser, who raised $5,500. The Award for the Largest Team went to Captain Sarah Wetenhall of Team It Takes a Colony, representing The Colony Hotel with 46 members.
The Race Director then took the stage to hand out the awards to the other finishers. The second place for best male time went to Daniel Yinh, and Second Place for the best female time went to Christina Rooney. Third Place for best male time went to Doug Schnittger, and Third Place for the best female time went to Lilia Drew. The top three Overall Masters awards for the male division went to Eric Capostagno for First Place, William Rivera for Second Place and Saare Abera for Third Place. The top three Overall Masters awards for the female division went to Helen Irish for First Place, Stephanie Stevens for Second Place and T Fox for Third Place.
The Age Division winners included D. Alva and R. Goldberg for 12 and under, Colton Osterberg and Xenia Platt for 13-15, Tyler Jassenoff and Coral Glaser for 16-19, Montoya Zuluaga and Chloe Esposito for 20-24, Alfredo Granier and Sofia Remez for 25-29, Kevin Herman and Katy Coffield 30-34, Duniel Viera and Bolan Tarkoe for 35-39, Ryan Thompson and Krista Begovic for 40-44, Anderson Nunes and Jill Mahler for 45-49, Scott Olenski and Erika Williams for 50-54, Michael Trontz and Judy Libby for 55-59, Mark Bess and Annette Johnson for 60-64, Michael Farrell and Laurie Horstmann for 65-69, Jack Sabenski and Mary B Stanton for 70-74, and Harold Rosen and Lee McLaughlin for 75 plus.
Committee Race participants included: Diego Binetti, Bob Murray, Frances & Jeffrey Fisher, Christina Flaherty, Barbara & Alan Glatt, Jamee & Peter Gregory, Kaaren & Charles Hale, Eleanora Kennedy, Kamie Lightburn, Teresa & Jim Remez, Christine Schott, Jeff Sophir, Eddy Taylor, Barbera Hale Thornhill, Pam & Richard Williams and Nancy Yanofsy & Ed Brown.
Junior Committee participants included: Zoe Bullock Cacioppo, Katherine Lande & Kevin Condon, Chloe Pearl Glaser, Cece Glatt, Jennifer Gowdy, Maggi Haigh, Stacey Leuliette, Jennnifer Lourie, Bryan Ludwig
Elizabeth Marshman, Taylor Materio, Nick Mele, Mona Nasser, Matthew Oleszczuk, Hollis Bradley Pica
Whitney Schott, Kirsten Smith, Grant Sory, Alanna Sutherland, Eric Viner and Sarah Wetenhall
Palm Beach Race of Hope Committee
Race of Hope Co-Grand Marshals: Audrey Gruss and Scott Snyder
Diamond Committee Level: Marvin H. Davidson Foundation and Laura & Brent Nicklas
Platinum Committee Level: Becky & F. William Bryan, Philippe & Deborah Dauman
Jamee & Peter Gregory, Charles & Kaaren Hale, Simone & David Levinson, Nicola & Jeffrey Marcus, Heidi and Tom McWilliams, Alina de Almeida and John Paulson, Thomas C. Quick & Michael Donnell, Barbera Hale Thornhill and Lynne Wheat
Gold Committee Level: Paola Bacchini & Arnold Rosenshein, CeCe & Lee Black, Julie & Mike Connors, The Honorable David Fischer & Jennifer Fischer, Frances Fisher, Christina and Brian Flaherty, Cindy & Chris Galvin, Yaz & Valentin Hernandez, Ann F. Jeffery, Melanie & Roger Lawson, Ambassador & Mrs. John L. Loeb Jr., Muffy & Donald Miller, Jeffrey Pfeifle & David Granville, Kara Ross, Pat Ryan, Christine Schott, Taylor Family Foundation and Nancy Yanofsky & Ed Brown
Silver Committee Level: Robin Baker Leacock, Geoffrey N. Bradfield, Susie & Vere Gaynor
Hilary Geary Ross, Barbara & Alan Glatt, Darcy Gould, J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Foundation, Tania & Brian Higgins, Herb & Eva Jacobi, Jayne T. Keith, Eleanora Kennedy, Kamie Lightburn, Stephanie Loeffler, Sharon Bush & Bob Murray, Lucia N. Musso, Sallie B. Phillips, Joanna Roland, Frances G. Scaife, Barbara & Randall Smith, Mary Snow, Betsy & Wally Turner, Lis Waterman, Michelle Worth, Clelia & Tom Zacharias, Matthew Ailey & Greg Zaffiro and Silvia Zoullas
Palm Beach Race of Hope Junior Committee
Honorary Chair: PJ Quick Pollack
Chairs: Callie Baker Holt, Nick Mele
Vice Chairs: Hollis Bradley Pica, Chloe Pearl Glaser, Katherine Lande & Kevin Condon, Lauren Merck, Mona Nasser, Whitney Schott, Grace & Tally Walker and Sarah Wetenhall
Committee: Bettina Anderson, Matthew Dane Brookshire, Zoe Bullock Cacioppo, Christina Coleman, Samantha Curry, Linsey Walters Desich, CeCe Glatt, Alexandra Grace, Clementine Goutal, Alex Hamer, Jennifer Gowdy, Maggi Haigh, Stacey Leuliette, Jennifer Lourie, Bryan Ludwig, Elizabeth Marshman, Jennifer Maerz, Taylor Materio, Devon McCready, Matthew Oleszczuk, Jack Rooney, Hannah Selleck, Kirsten Smith, Grant Sory, Alanna Sutherland and Eric Viner
Palm Beach Race of Hope Sponsors
Findlay Galleries is the 2025 Race of Hope presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include Bar Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up, Coastal Gardens, Environment Design Group, Isaia Napoli, JP Morgan Private Bank, Le Bilboquet, Livingston Builders, Love Binetti, Marble of the World, Marissa Collections, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Palm Beach Illustrated, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, PG Forsta, Lily Pulitzer, Pure Skin Palm Beach, Robert and Perri Bishop Foundation, Rubinson Glaser Family, Smith & Elkin, South Flagler House, Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care and Veronica Beard.
About Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF)
The Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) was established in 2006 by Audrey Gruss in honor of her mother, Hope. The foundation supports research focused on understanding depression and related mood disorders, including bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and suicide.
HDRF funds studies to advance medical diagnosis, treatment options, and prevention strategies. It has awarded over $85 million through more than 200 research grants. Current projects include clinical trials on potential new treatments at institutions such as Mount Sinai Medical Center, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins, the University of San Diego, and the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. HDRF’s Depression Task Force, a network of leading brain scientists, continues to explore innovative approaches to addressing depression and mental health challenges.
Published by Stephanie M.
