Hilton Hartford • Wed, Jul 26, 2017 @ 8:00 am
Shatterproof to Host 4th Annual Hartford Shatterproof Challenge Rappel
National Nonprofit Working to End the Devastation of Addiction Brings Together Hartford Community to Rappel 22 Stories Down the Hartford Hilton
Shatterproof, the leading national nonprofit dedicated to reducing the devastation that the disease of addiction causes families, will host its 4th annual Shatterproof Challenge Rappel down the Hilton Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut on July 26th. Shatterproof hosts theonly national event series focused on reducing the stigma associated with addiction, while giving participants an opportunity to come together to support all of those affected by this disease.
Participants will have the rare opportunity to rappel 22 stories from the top of the downtown Hilton Hartford, while sponsors and supporters cheer them on from below. All funds raised through the event will go directly toward Shatterproof’s mission: funding evidence-based resources for families, state and federal advocacy efforts, and a strong community of families offering support.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be returning to Hartford once again,” said Shatterproof Founder and CEO Gary Mendell. “Every year we embrace the opportunity to raise awareness and funding for this crucial cause, and every year we’re blown away by the support and excitement we get back from this community.”
Shatterproof is partnering with the Waterford Group Charitable Foundation to draw attention to the national epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction. “The Waterford Group is proud to once again host the Shatterproof Challenge Rappel to bring awareness to this national health crisis,” said Len Wolman, chairman and CEO of the Waterford Group. “Our mission is always to give back to the Hartford community and to help those in need, and this event is the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.”
The Shatterproof Challenge Rappel Hartford will bring new attention to the opioid epidemic, which kills 30,000 Americans every year. The Shatterproof Challenge Rappel is open to anyone; no previous rappelling experience is needed. For more information or to sign up to rappel, please visit www.rappelhartford.org
About Shatterproof
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the devastation the disease of addiction causes families. Shatterproof works to end the stigma and foster a community of support. Shatterproof provides families with evidence-based resources to support prevention, treatment, and recovery. Shatterproof advocates for changes in policy at the federal and state level and supports the development and implementation of evidence-based solutions for substance-use disorders.
About Gary Mendell
Gary Mendell is the founder and CEO of Shatterproof, the leading national nonprofit dedicated to reducing the stigma of addiction and the devastation it causes families. Mendell has spent more than 25 years as an entrepreneur. He founded HEI Hotels & Resorts, a multi-billion-dollar company that oversees 70 hotels, and he previously served as President of Starwood Lodging Trust. Losing his son Brian in 2011, after a 10-year struggle with addiction, Mendell made a promise to spare other families from this tragedy. Shatterproof was created to change how addiction is perceived, prevented, and treated in the U.S. Mendell received his B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and his MBA with distinction from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
About Waterford Group Charitable Foundation
In 2006, Waterford Group and its affiliates formed the Waterford Group Charitable Foundation, a registered 501c3 nonprofit, which supports the communities in which their associates live and work. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life of others through monetary and gift-in-kind donations, as well as volunteering at various events. Waterford associates donate to the Foundation through voluntary payroll contributions, as well as participate in numerous fundraising events each year. This allows the Waterford Group Charitable Foundation to support many charitable causes, both on a national and regional level. For more information, visit waterfordhotelgroup.com.
About Len Wolman
Len has more than 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He serves as Chairman and CEO of Waterford Group, LLC, a leader in the hospitality and gaming industry that specializes in the development, ownership, and management of hotel, venue, and gaming projects. Under his leadership, Waterford Group has been involved in developing and operating projects totaling more than $3 billion. Len holds a National Diploma in Hotel Management from the Hotel School of Technikon Witwatersrand in South Africa.