As announced on The Wendy Williams Show, Daytime EMMY® Award-nominated television host, New York Times best-selling author and philanthropist Wendy Williams, in conjunction with The Hunter Foundation (www.thehunter-foundation.org) are launching Be Here (www.behere.org), a call-to-action campaign that will aim to change the face of addiction to one of hope, community, education and engagement.
Overcoming her own struggle with substance abuse, and facing the crisis when it hit close to home, Wendy Williams Hunter, with her family-founded charitable organization The Hunter Foundation, want to face the addiction and substance abuse crisis head on, launching Be Here to help provide those in need with the support to conquer their dependency of substances, including opioid drugs and K2 (Synthetic Cannabinoids), which has reached epidemic levels in cities across the country.
“Addiction is a scary thing to go through. I have seen it up-close, that’s what makes this issue personal to me. As a mother, wife, daughter and friend, I cannot stand by and do nothing while there are real people trying to overcome struggles,” said Wendy Williams Hunter
She adds, “This is a battle that can be won – if we do it together. Which is why I’m asking for you to join me in the Be Here movement and help save lives so the people who need us most know we will be here for them. Because we want to make sure they are here for all of life’s precious moments.”
With over 20 million Americans over the age of 12 suffering from addiction, more than 45 million Americans are affected by addiction in some way. The Hunter Foundation created the Be Here campaign in an effort to create systemic change in the fight against this epidemic. The goal is to support the treatment and recovery of those facing drug addiction, work towards creating lasting solutions through legislation and support innovative treatment solutions. Additionally, the Foundation will aim to create a Youth Leader Program which will include mentorship and counseling, after school and weekend activities for at-risk youth, as well as an education program on the effects of K2 and opioid drugs. Funds will also be used to partner with a university laboratory to conduct a clinical research study to examine the ingredients of K2 and its effects on the brain and body.
As the campaign is titled Be Here, it encourages those with loved ones suffering from addiction and substance abuse to be here for the people who need us, be here for the moments, be here for the graduations, the first steps, the recitals, the laughs, the journeys and more. We want those who are struggling to know that we are here for them and want them to be here with us.
William’s and the The Hunter Foundation unveiled the Be Here campaign at the inaugural Wendy Williams Hunter Birthday Give Back Gala on July 18 at Hammerstein Ballroom. The evening was hosted by TV personality and actress Torrei Hart, with performances by Johnny Gill and Keri Hilson, with a special honoring of the late Natalie Cole with “The Extraordinary Figure Award.”
Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, the nation's largest minority-owned full-service fundraising firm is the lead fundraising counsel for The Hunter Foundation and the creative marketing and direction for the Be Here campaign is led by We Have Stories Inc.
For more information about Be Here. and The Hunter Foundation, please visit:
www.behere.org www.thehunter-foundation
Posted By: Tanisha Grant
Sunday, July 22nd 2018 at 11:55AM
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