The Race of Hope Celebrates Its 7th Anniversary in Palm Beach This February

Miami Wire Contributor

The Race of Hope Returns to Bradley Park To Raise Funds For Mental Health Research

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, the Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) will celebrate the seventh anniversary of its signature Race of Hope 5K Walk & Run at Bradley Park. The presenting sponsor for the 2025 Race is Findlay Galleries. The Race is a highly anticipated event that has continued to grow since its launch in Palm Beach in 2019. Each year, hundreds of runners and walkers throughout South Florida gather to raise critical funds for mental health research.

“This year marks our seventh anniversary in Palm Beach, and we are constantly in awe of the turnout from this community,” said HDRF Founding Chair Audrey Gruss. “At HDRF, our mission is to spread mental health awareness and find new and, importantly, better treatments for depression research.”

Gruss noted, “Currently, our Depression Task Force of brain scientists has identified 20 genes that are linked to depression and anxiety and will be bringing them to human clinical trials for development. This marks an important moment for mental health research, made possible by the ongoing support of our community in advancing depression research and treatment.”

Palm Beach residents Gruss and HDRF Board member Scott Snyder will serve as Co-Grand Marshals for the Race. They will lead participants on a 5K (3.1 mile) route starting at Bradley Park and looping along the Palm Beach Lake Trail, with beautiful water views. The Race is a high-spirited, family-friendly event for all ages and speeds, with dogs and strollers welcome.

Registration Information:

Date: February 15, 2025
Meeting Point: Bradley Park, Palm Beach, FL 33480
Race Gear Early Pick Up: February 14, 2025, from 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM at the Mandel Recreation Center “North Colonnade,” 340 Seaview Avenue, Palm Beac,h FL
Time: Check-in begins at 6:30 AM – 7:45 AM (sharp), and the Race of Hope begins at 8:00 AM. Beverages and grab-and-go snacks will be offered at the finish line.
$50 up to 02/14/25; $55 on Race Day (02/15/25)

The Palm Beach Race of Hope drew nearly 900 participants and raised $900,000 for HDRF’s advanced depression research in 2024, breaking all previous records. The Race was first launched in Southampton in August 2016. Since then, the Race of Hope series has raised over $1.5 million for depression research.

On May 18, 2025, HDRF will host its third annual Teen Race of Hope for city high schools in New York. 100% of the funds raised from these races will go directly to advanced depression research.

For more information or to register for the race, visit https://www.raceofhopeseries.com/.

Palm Beach Race of Hope Committee

Race of Hope Co-Grand Marshals: Audrey Gruss and Scott Snyder

Diamond Committee Level: Marvin H. Davidson Foundation and Laura & Brent Nicklas

Platinum Committee Level: Becky & F. William Bryan, Philippe & Deborah Dauman

Jamee & Peter Gregory, Charles & Kaaren Hale, Simone & David Levinson, Nicola & Jeffrey Marcus, Heidi and Tom McWilliams, Alina de Almeida and John Paulson, Thomas C. Quick & Michael Donnell, Barbera Hale Thornhill and Lynne Wheat

Gold Committee Level: Paola Bacchini & Arnold Rosenshein, CeCe & Lee Black, Julie & Mike Connors, The Honorable David Fischer & Jennifer Fischer, Frances Fisher, Cindy & Chris Galvin, Yaz & Valentin Hernandez, Ann F. Jeffery, Melanie & Roger Lawson, Ambassador & Mrs. John L. Loeb Jr., Muffy & Donald Miller, Jeffrey Pfeifle & David Granville, Kara Ross, Pat Ryan, Christine Schott, Taylor Family Foundation and Nancy Yanofsky & Ed Brown

Silver Committee Level: Robin Baker Leacock, Geoffrey N. Bradfield, Susie & Vere Gaynor

Hilary Geary Ross, Barbara & Alan Glatt, Darcy Gould, J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Foundation, Tania & Brian Higgins, Herb & Eva Jacobi, Jayne T. Keith, Eleanora Kennedy, Kamie Lightburn, Stephanie Loeffler, Sharon Bush & Bob Murray, Lucia N. Musso, Sallie B. Phillips, Joanna Roland, Frances G. Scaife, Barbara & Randall Smith, Mary Snow, Betsy & Wally Turner, Lis Waterman, Michelle WorthClelia & Tom Zacharias, Matthew Ailey & Greg Zaffiro and Silvia Zoullas

Palm Beach Race of Hope Junior Committee

Honorary Chair: PJ Quick Pollack

Chairs: Callie Baker Holt, Nick Mele

Vice Chairs: Hollis Bradley Pica, Chloe Pearl Glaser, Katherine Lande & Kevin Condon, Lauren Merck, Mona Nasser, Whitney Schott, Grace & Tally Walker and Sarah Wetenhall

Committee: Bettina Anderson, Matthew Dane Brookshire, Zoe Bullock Cacioppo, Christina Coleman, Samantha Curry, Linsey Walters Desich, CeCe Glatt, Alexandra Grace, Clementine Goutal, Alex Hamer, Jennifer Gowdy, Maggi Haigh, Stacey Leuliette, Jennifer Lourie, Bryan Ludwig, Elizabeth Marshman, Jennifer Maerz, Taylor Materio, Devon McCready, Matthew Oleszczuk, Jack Rooney, Hannah Selleck, Kirsten Smith, Grant Sory, Alanna Sutherland and Eric Viner

Palm Beach Race of Hope Sponsors

Bar Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up, Coastal Gardens, Environment Design Group, Findlay Galleries, Isaia Napoli, JP Morgan Private Bank, Le Bilboquet, Livingston Builders, Love Binetti, Marble of the World, Marissa Collections, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Palm Beach Illustrated, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, PG Forsta, Pure Skin Palm Beach, Robert and Perri Bishop Foundation, Rubinson Glaser Family, Smith & Elkin, South Flagler House, Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care and Veronica Beard

About Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF)

HDRF was founded in 2006 by philanthropist Audrey Gruss in memory of her mother, Hope, who experienced clinical depression. The foundation supports research aimed at better understanding the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of depression and related mood disorders, including bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, PTSD, anxiety, and suicide. Depression is recognized as a significant global health challenge, yet current treatments do not work for everyone. Over the years, HDRF has funded numerous research initiatives and clinical trials at institutions such as Mount Sinai Medical Center, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins, the University of California San Diego, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The foundation continues to support studies exploring new treatment approaches and diagnostic tools.

Published by Tom W.