About us
Being A Teen Today Isn’t Easy.
Many are navigating anxiety, stress, loneliness, and the pressure to keep it all together—often without feeling seen or understood.
That’s why we create safe, supportive spaces where young people find connection, belonging, and hope, while building lifelong skills for resilience and emotional wellness.
Our approach
Programs That Change Lives.
Through engaging, meaningful experiences, our programs bring teens together to build connections, strengthen resilience, and gain practical tools to face life’s challenges.
The FORT Six Week Series
Continuation of this six week program: Building Courage: Knowing Myself, Finding My Place & Discovering What Helps A…
The FORT At School
Belmont Ridge Middle School Register: Free The FORT At School is a free mental wellness workshop series similar…
The FORT At School
Blue Ridge Middle School Register: Free The FORT At School is a free mental wellness workshop series similar…
By the numbers
Real Connection. Lasting Impact.
Our impact reflects what matters most: teens feeling less alone, more understood, and better equipped with real tools to navigate life.
91%
teens
feel more connected to peers and adults.
500+
program participants
served in 2025.
90%
teens
report improved ability to communicate their feelings.
98%
learned
a new skill to use when feeling stressed, anxious or sad.
Give hope
Connection Starts With Community.
The need for teen connection is growing—and we can’t meet it alone. Your support helps reach teens early, before isolation deepens, creating consistent spaces where connection can grow and belonging can take root. Together, we can build a community where every teen feels seen, supported, and never alone.
Thank You To Our Major Funders.
Follow Us.
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Counting down the days! There's still time to register and support a great cause. Tiles for Hope has great prizes planned for both competitive and "lite/novice" tournament players. And chances to win amazing raffle items from local donors! @stonetowerwinery, @kingstreetoyster, @eastgoesfirst, @talktilestome, @locomahj, @sweetjojodesigns, @shopmonamieamy, @thebambooroomvienna, @jacksonharlowbeauty, @sommlay_consulting. Less than one week to register: 💚 Mahj for a Cause! November…
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The FORT is back this month as single-day event. After a very successful, six-week FORT series in October, the upcoming FORT will be in our traditional, 3-hour format on November 15th, from 1pm – 4pm. Join us at Sterling Community Center for an active, movement-filled workshop and creative projects that boost mindfulness. Participants will have a chance to engage mind…
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What an incredible day on the field! We are deeply grateful to the @ServiceNow Federal family, their partners, and sponsors for hosting the 5th Annual Charity Kickball Tournament benefiting the Ryan Bartel Foundation. The generosity was truly overwhelming. Thanks to the dedication of the organizers, participating teams, and sponsors, the tournament raised an astounding $88,614 to support our youth mental…
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Do you play Mahjong? Would you like to learn? Tiles for Hope is a Mahjong Tournament benefiting the Ryan Bartel Foundation, with proceeds supporting programs that promote teen mental health, resilience, and protection against self harm. The tournament is for all levels and we are offering free lessons for new players preceding the event! Less than one week to register:…
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Relive More Moments at ryanbartelfoundation.org/notes-of-hope/
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Huge thanks to the Lido Civic Club of Washington (@lidoclubpublicrelations) for their incredible $5,000 grant supporting the Ryan Bartel Foundation’s youth suicide prevention programs! 🌟 Our President, Suzie Bartel, and Executive Director, Val Walters, were on hand at the Lido Club’s October meeting to accept this generous gift. We are especially thankful to Vito Germinario for his sponsorship and continued…
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Your seat at the table matters. At Tiles for Hope, your registration is more than an entry into a mahjong tournament whether you’re a shark or a novice. It helps fund programs that give teens opportunities to connect, develop resilience and discover hope. Creating safe, supportive spaces for teens takes a dedicated community—and our sponsors are helping to lead the…
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Calling all mahjong players! 🀄 Competitive player? Come play. Casual player? Come play. Still learning? Come play! Tiles for Hope welcomes players at every level, with competitive, casual and new-player tables. The goal is simple: have fun, make connections and raise funds for programs that build connection and resilience for local teens. 💚 Mahj for a Cause. https://tinyurl.com/4r2mvw2s Get the…
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Mahj for a Cause. 💚💛 Join us on November 8th for Tiles for Hope, a day of friendly competition built around one important belief: connection changes everything—especially for our teens. Every seat at the table supports the Ryan Bartel Foundation’s programs helping teens build connection, resilience and hope. 🀄 Play mahjong. 💛 Make connections. 💚 Make a difference. Grab your…
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What an unforgettable evening of connection, gratitude, and hope! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Ryan Bartel Foundation’s Notes of Hope Gala. Your generosity, your contributions to our fundraiser, and your belief in our mission will help us create welcoming spaces and supportive programs where more young people can experience connection, belonging, and hope. The evening was…
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Your seat at the table matters. At Tiles for Hope, your registration is more than an entry into a mahjong tournament. It helps fund programs that give teens opportunities to connect, develop resilience and discover hope. One seat. One day of mahjong. A meaningful difference for local teens. Will you join us at the table? 💚💛 Mahj for a Cause…
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Join us in supporting The 7th Annual Live4Lane Memorial Walk. Get connected with a caring community in advocacy for teen mental health and ending the stigma! 🙌 Volunteer — student service hours are available! 🚶 Walk: family- and dog-friendly 2.5K/5K course 📍 Lowes Island | Sterling, VA 📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026 ⏰ Registration 8 AM | Walk 9 AM…
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Today, we celebrate the importance of mental health worldwide—and the people who care for it every day. We also focus on the vital importance of listening and engagement. This year’s theme—Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change—is a reminder to not only champion mental health awareness, but to actively create spaces to hear those with lived experience. 🤲 This evening…
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Hello RBF Family! Join us in supporting The 7th Annual Live4Lane Memorial Walk. Get connected with a caring community in advocacy for teen mental health and ending the stigma! Plus it's a fun, energizing way to get gentle exercise and grow the movement. 🚶 Walk: family- and dog-friendly 2.5K/5K course 🙌 Volunteer — student service hours are available! 📍 Lowes…
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Do you play Mahjong? Would you like to learn? Tiles for Hope is a Mahjong Tournament benefiting the Ryan Bartel Foundation, with proceeds supporting programs that promote teen mental health, resilience, and suicide prevention. 🤲 The tournament is for ALL levels and we are offering free lessons for new players preceding the event! 💚 ✨🐉 Join us and Mahj for…
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Welcome to another new sponsor, @sandstonecare tone Care, to the Ryan Bartel Foundation family! Right from our very first conversation, it was clear that the team at Sandstone Care unquestionably shares our mission for preventing youth suicide and supporting teen mental health. We are so excited for what we will accomplish together. By stepping up to support our mission, they…
