When my son Hunter died, I wanted to do something to honor him and the love we have for each other.  The idea for HuntersWorld was actually born out of a heartfelt conversation between me and some of his closest friends.  We spoke about him, what we missed most about him, and the common thread was the way he made us feel.  He made us laugh, he made us think and in his effortless and genuine way he made us feel loved.  He would make the effort to talk to you, comfort you and support you in the way you needed it most.  That’s a tough act to follow, but it’s what we strive for everyday at HuntersWorld – creating a safe place where teens can come to feel all of those things.

The last 5 years have been a journey filled with so many conflicting emotions.  I miss my son every minute of every day, and at the same time I feel so full of love and pride for all of the mentors who I get to watchi blossom in ways I could never have imagined.  They are brave, they are kind and they are so dedicated to each other and to this place.  Our program is now full of teens who don’t even know Hunter – yet they feel drawn to this place with the same loyalty as those of us who knew and love him.  These mentors give me hope that I can navigate this painful journey with love – because they have created a place that has put my son’s heart on display for the world to see.  I can’t wait to see how far we can go, how many teens we can reach and how much Hunter’s heart will change the world.