On Saturday July 16th, Audrey Gruss hosted a kick-off cocktail party for the Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s (HDRF) inaugural Walk of Hope and Shop for Hope fundraising events that will take place on Saturday July 30th, from 9 AM in Southampton.
Held at the Hamptons home she shares with her husband Martin Gruss, the party was attended by such guests such as Southampton Mayor Mark Epley, Scott Snyder, Lis and Richard Waterman, Kim Heirston Evans, Mai Hallingby-Harrison, Debbie Bancroft, and Whitney Fairchild.
Midway through the party held in the garden and pool area of the Gruss’ home, Audrey thanked guests for attending and said, ”HDRF’s research mission is so critical, and I am so grateful to everyone for showing their support by committing to walk on July 30th.” She continued to say that the Walk of Hope has “over 200 people committed, with two weeks left to go.”
Mayor Mark Epley, who is opening the Walk, then spoke about how HDRF is a leader in the field of depression research, and said that he is “looking forward to taking part in the Walk.”
The three-mile Walk will circle a route around Lake Agawam in Southampton Village. It will be led by Gruss, who is president and founder of the Foundation. After the event, top retailers in town like Theory and Jennifer Miller and other stores on Main Street and Jobs Lane will take part in Shop for Hope. A percentage of sales will be donated to HDRF’s advanced research initiatives. Shop for Hope will run from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
About HDRF: The Hope for Depression Research Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization focused solely on depression research. HDRF’s mission is two-fold: To accelerate advanced brain research into the origins, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of depression; and to raise awareness of depression as a medical illness, educate the public and erase the stigma of depression.The World Health Organization has declared depression the leading cause of disability worldwide. To date, HDRF has provided more than $20 million through over 125 grants for accelerated depression research that promises to lead to new and better medications and treatments.
Audrey Gruss founded HDRF in April 2006 in memory of her mother Hope, who struggled with clinical depression. Every dollar raised goes directly to research.
