BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOCIAL MEDIA
SOCIAL MEDIA
MEDIA
April 07, 2020
Val Walters of the Ryan Bartel Foundation offers guidance during a trying time
The coronavirus pandemic is providing a tumultuous time for teens who were already facing many challenges. The Ryan Bartel Foundation has created ways to reach teens who would normally come to "The Fort," their community space.
The Times-Mirror sat down with Walters -- virtually -- to discuss her new role with the Ryan Bartel Foundation and how they are handling this challenging time.
March 09, 2020
Ryan Bartel Foundation announces new Executive Director
WATERFORD, VA – Ryan Bartel Foundation, a Loudoun County based nonprofit whose mission is to prevent youth suicide, announced today the hiring of Valeria (Val) Walters as the Foundation’s new Executive Director. Val most recently served as the Executive Director of Committee for Dulles, a nonprofit that supports and encourages the growth of Washington Dulles International Airport. Val’s background also includes serving as a public advocate for transportation and economic development projects in the region as well as serving on the Board of both the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce and Stone Springs Hospital.
“We are thrilled to welcome Val to the Ryan Bartel Foundation team,” said Suzie Bartel, Chair of the Board. "Val's unique combination of leadership, experience, enthusiasm and her strong connection to our mission, make her the right person to propel our Foundation forward.”
Val is replacing Chris Croll, Ryan Bartel Foundation Board member who was serving as interim Executive Director.
About Ryan Bartel Foundation
Ryan Bartel Foundation is a growing nonprofit located in Loudoun County, Virginia whose mission is to prevent youth suicide through awareness, upstream educational programs and activities that support and empower youth, families and the community-at-large. Foundation programs are focused on building acceptance, connection, resiliency and hope.
January 28, 2020
Ryan Bartel Foundation Expanding Organization
WATERFORD, VA – Ryan Bartel Foundation, a Loudoun County based nonprofit whose mission is to prevent youth suicide, is experiencing rapid growth and therefore expanding the Foundation’s leadership team. A search for a seasoned Executive Director for the Foundation is underway and the Foundation’s Board of Directors added three new members this month.
New Board members are:
· Wallace H. Owings, CPA, managing principal of the firm Owings & Company PLLC, has a long history of community involvement, including serving as President of the Committee for Dulles, Dulles Rotary and the Virginia Jaycees. Owings was also appointed by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to the Loudoun Water Authority where he chaired the Finance Committee. Owings has served in local government as an Assistant Town Manager, Assistant County Executive and Administrator of Special Tax District. He formerly served as the CEO of a not for profit and owned a printing and graphics company. Owings is a licensed CPA in Virginia.
· Margaret L. Brown is a strategic communications and public relations consultant with more than three decades of experience in public relations and internal communications for companies in the technology and channel sectors, as well as retail, nonprofit and finance verticals. Her current clients include 100WomenStrong, Wize Solutions, InterGrid, SWaN & Legend, Hill Top House Hotel, Quidne Press and Altor Locks. Brown is a freelance blog writer for Strategic Communications Group. She previously served on the Board of All Ages Read Together and is a member of, and Immediate Past Chair of, the Board of the Loudoun Literacy Council.
· Christina (Chris) Croll has spent 25 years leading strategic communications projects for media, education, tech, legal and healthcare companies. Croll’s clients and employers have included America Online, Gartner, The Walt Disney Company, Network Solutions, Qwest Communications, Total Document Solutions and several startups. Most recently, Croll served on the Loudoun County School Board which governs one of the state’s largest school divisions with an annual operating budget of $1.3B. In 2018, Croll founded the National Center for Gifted Services, a parent resource center which sprang out of her nonprofit, Loudoun County Parents of Gifted Students (LoCoPOGS), which today serves more than 1,000 families.
In addition to joining the Board of Directors, Croll is serving as interim Executive Director for the Ryan Bartel Foundation while the staff search is underway. Suzie Bartel continues to serve as Board Chair.
April 29, 2018
'I hope he's proud': Virginia mom who lost son to suicide builds 'FORT' for kids.
Suzie Bartel is turning her pain into purpose.
A few years after losing her son Ryan to suicide, the Loudoun County, Virginia, mother is trying to prevent other families from having to go through the same agony.
August 03, 2017
Loudoun Schools Roll out New Suicide Prevention Tactics
After seeing a rise in teen suicide over the past few years, Loudoun County’s elected leaders have made it clear that the schools need to do more to support and identify students who feel overwhelmed.
Armed with more funding for mental health professionals, the school system is rolling out two new initiatives that will debut with the start of the school year.
April 19, 2017
We're All Human Walks towards Understanding
Adults don’t always understand the social pressure facing teens; even though they say they do.
That was the message delivered Wednesday, April 19th, at Woodgrove High School by Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall, a mental health therapist.
April 19, 2017
Thousands of students walk for suicide prevention
Woodgrove High School’s We’re All Human group hosted its second assembly and walk today to raise awareness for teenage suicide prevention. We’re All Human members spoke about their struggles with depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges, and how involvement in the club has helped them work to overcome them.
November 17, 2016
Loudoun mother who lost her child to suicide is working to save others
Suzie Bartel isn’t just a can-do person. She describes herself as someone who can’t just stand by when she sees a problem. She has to respond. So when her son Ryan took his own life on Oct. 15, 2014, she got to doing.
November 08, 2016
After numerous teen suicides, Loudoun comes together to talk ‘hope’
After a wave of teen suicides around the county over the last year, Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) brought Loudoun County together Nov. 7 to figure out how the community can do a better job at suicide prevention.
November 08, 2016
Randall hosts teen suicide prevention forum: 'There's always hope'
County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large)’s teen suicide prevention forum at Inova Loudoun Hospital on Monday night brought together people from across age groups and professions with a single message: “There’s always hope.”
June 07, 2016
Loudoun parents seek guidance, service at suicide prevention town hall
The in-depth three-hour long discussion included advice from a mother who lost her son to suicide, two therapists, Loudoun County Public School officials, students and more. The speakers talked about the signs that a teen may be suicidal, research on who is most at risk, how to destigmatize the subject and how to make students feel comfortable talking about their issues.
April 06, 2016
Students Respond to Suicides With Message of Hope
Students at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville, Virginia, walked out of classes Wednesday to express support for classmates struggling with depression. News4's David Culver spoke with the mother of Ryan Bartel, who died by suicide in Oct. 2014.
April 06, 2016
Students walk to curb suicide countywide
Morning classes at Woodgrove High School were canceled so that the entire student body could go on a walk.It was an unseasonably cold and breezy morning, but few complained. Their thoughts and conversations were on Ryan, and Will, and Christian, and other young people from the Loudoun community who had lost their lives in suicide-related incidents in recent years.
January 27, 2016
Talk of improving the safety net for struggling teens tends to grow louder after a tragedy plays out in the public eye.
January 22, 2016
Heavy metal bands took to the Bush Tabernacle stage last Saturday evening for the second annual Rock for Ryan concert. The concert, named in honor of Ryan Bartel, a Woodgrove senior who took his life on Oct. 15, 2014, featured local bands from all over the area performing heavy metal music. Commemorative concert shirts were given to the first 100 ticket holders.
January 14, 2016
Local rockers and supporters will be jamming to bring awareness to youth suicide this Saturday, Jan. 16 from 7pm to 11:30pm at the Bush Tabernacle Skating Rink in Purcellville.