The Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year and mark the 11th Annual Race of Hope to Defeat Depression on Sunday, August 2, 2026, in Southampton Village. The Race is one of the most highly anticipated traditions in the Hamptons event calendar and continues to grow each year. Last year, HDRF welcomed 1,100 participants and raised over $500,000 to fund critical mental health research.
In the week leading up to the Race, HDRF will launch on Thursday, July 23 its annual Week of Hope, avillage-wide campaign in Southampton to raise mental health awareness. Local retailers display large, yellow HOPE flags in front of their stores to support HDRF and show their commitment to the issue of mental health. The Week also includes HDRF’s annual HOPE Summer Seminar, which this year will feature acclaimed psychologist Dr. Michael Pantalon speaking on “How to Motivate Anyone to do Anything Fast; A scientifically-proven approach to healthy change in yourself and your loved ones.”
The HDRF Race of Hope began in Southampton in 2016, and has since expanded to Palm Beach in February and New York City in May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. The Race series has raised over $5 million for depression research since its inception.
Southampton resident Audrey Gruss is HDRF Founding Chair and serves as the Race Grand Marshal. She said: “Each year, the Race of Hope brings the Southampton community together to champion mental health awareness and support HDRF’s groundbreaking research into next-generation therapies for depression and anxiety.”
Since its founding in 2006, HDRF has contributed more than $80 million to cutting-edge depression research, establishing itself as a leader in the development of next-generation therapies. In 2012, Gruss launched the HDRF Depression Task Force, an international collaboration of top neuroscientists from different universities who are pooling data and expertise to accelerate discovery. Today, the DTF has new targets in the brain that can lead to precision treatment for depression. The novel targets are now being tested in early clinical studies.
Depression affects millions of Americans across all ages, genders, races, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. For the past 20 years, HDRF has been at the forefront of advancing both scientific research and public understanding of depression as a treatable medical illness. Through educational initiatives, community programs, and support for groundbreaking research, HDRF has worked tirelessly to reduce stigma and improve outcomes for those affected by depression.
In addition to the Race of Hope, HDRF hosts signature events throughout the year, including the annual HOPE Luncheon Seminar in New York City and Palm Beach. The Luncheon brings mental health to the media forefront through storytelling, compelling science and advocacy.
On the morning of the Race of Hope, Gruss will lead participants on a beautiful 5K (3.1 mile) route around Lake Agawam in Southampton Village. Participants can opt to run this USA Track and Field-sanctioned event competitively, or casually walk with their friends, strollers and/or dogs. All who attend are united in a common purpose, to support research into new treatments for depression and to fight the stigma associated with seeking help. To create a bright sea of yellow, HDRF provides all participants with caps and race gear in its signature yellow.
The Race of Hope is supported by localresidents including Janna Bullock, Alan Glatt, Roger and Bambi Felderbaum, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Mai Hallingby Harrison, Kim Heirston, Tania Higgins, Natasha Jeffries, Sharon and John Loeb, James and Margo Nederlander, Anne Nordeman, Kathy Prounis, Hilary Geary Ross, and Lis Waterman.
5K Race of Hope Committee
Platinum Level: Shelley Bergman, Annabelle & Denis Coleman, Christina & Brian Flaherty, Jamee & Peter Gregory, Bryan Ludwig, Stacey Pashcow & Marc Caputo, Alina de Almeida & John Paulson, Thomas C. Quick Charitable Foundation, James & Teresa Remez, Barbara & Randall Smith and Sarah & Andrew Wetenhall.
Gold Level: Jill Blanchard, Dominique Buaron, Hollis Bradley Pica, Ide & David Dangoor, Philippe del Grange, Michelle and Peter Farmer, Michael & Annie Falk, Bambi & Roger Felberbaum, The Honorable David Fischer & Jennifer Fischer, Molly & Bill Ford, Justin Davies & Mara Goodman-Davies LICSW, Candy Hamm, Kim Heirston, Yaz & Valentin Hernandez, William Kontes, Simone & David Levinson, Sharon H. & John L. Loeb. Jr., Robert F. Mancuso, Mary & Garrett Moran, Margo & Jimmy Nederlander, Pamela & Edward Pantzer, Tatiana & Campion Platt, Scott Snyder, Barbara & Clifford Sobel, Amanda Taylor, Dobi Trendafilova, Mary Ann Tighe & Dr. David Hidalgo and Lynne Wheat.
Silver Level: Catherine Adler, Jacob Antilety Landscaping, Inc., Kelly & Carlo Barel Di Sant’ Albano, Robin Baker Leacock, Diego Binetti, David C. Bohnett, Geoffrey N. Bradfield, Rita & Charles Bronfman, Janna Bullock, Chris Coffee, Gus N. Davis, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Wendy Dietze, Deborah A. Farrington, Frances & Jeff Fisher, Hilary Geary Ross, Barbara & Alan Glatt, Darcy Gould, Mai Hallingby Harrison, Alexia Hamm Ryan, Charlotte Hemmerly, Elizabeth & Edgar Howard, Eleanora Kennedy, Bonnie Lautenberg, Geralyn & Dr. Tyler Lucas, Carol & Earle Mack, Teresa Melhado, Mrs Lucia N Musso, Anne S. Nordeman, Jane & Richard Novick, Robin Pickett, Kathy Prounis, Katharine Rayner, Lauren Day Roberts, Frances G. Scaife, Carolyn Schenker, Jean Shafiroff, Ginny & David Sydorick, Lydia Touzet, Nicholas Varney, Lis Waterman, Clelia & Tom Zacharias and Silvia Zoullas.
5K Race of Hope Sponsors
Addigence, Argento, Dilandro Andrews, Gubbins Running, Hamptons Officeworks, humantold, Le Bilboquet, Livingston Builders, Love Binetti, Michelle Farmer Collaborate, NuView Health, SAFIYAA, Sage & Madison, Seated, Southampton Hospital Foundation, Team Fleming, The Hedges Inn, The Hemmerly Family and Vaneles.
Participants include professional and first-time runners, corporate teams, families, and children. Strollers and dogs are welcome. To participate, please visit https://www.southampton.raceofhopeseries.com/
The first 950 Race participants receive a commemorative jacket, t-shirt, and race hat; and all racers will receive a huge finisher medal; and prizes are awarded for best time in different age categories as well as for the top individual fundraiser and top fundraising team.
Registration Information:
â—Ź Date: Sunday August 2, 2026
â—Ź Meeting Point: Southampton Cultural Center, 25 Pond Lane, Southampton, NY
â—Ź Time: Check-in begins at 6:30AM, with the opening ceremony beginning at 8:00AM and the Race of Hope begins at 8:30 AM.
â—Ź Cost: $45 until July 11, 2026; $50 until August 2, 2026; $55 on race day
â—Ź Strollers and Dogs welcome
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 $80 million for breakthrough depression research that promises to transform the way depression is viewed, diagnosed, treated and prevented. In 2012, HDRF created the Depression Task Force, an international collaboration of top neuroscientists from different universities who are compiling data and expertise to accelerate research. HDRF has two clinical trials underway for potential novel antidepressants at Mount Sinai Medical Center and Max Planck Institute in Germany. Other clinical trials for novel therapies are in the pipeline at Columbia University and Weill Cornell.
