From Loss To Purpose.
The personal story behind our mission and the reason we exist to support young people today.
The Heart Behind The Mission.
In 2015, Suzie and Ben Bartel founded the Ryan Bartel Foundation, one year after losing their oldest son Ryan to suicide, just shy of his 18th birthday. Determined to create something meaningful from their loss, they set out to help ensure other young people and families would not face the same tragedy.
A Quiet, Gentle Soul.
Ryan was a quiet, gentle soul who felt life deeply, yet often found it difficult to express what he was carrying inside.
He was deeply loved by his family and close friends, but he struggled with low self-esteem, personal challenges, bullying, and a persistent feeling that he did not quite fit in.
Calm, Safe, And Free To Be Himself.
From an early age, Ryan had a passion for military history and all things military. He also found comfort in nature, seeking refuge in its tranquility, beauty, and acceptance. A lover of the outdoors, he often built imaginative forts from fallen branches, stones, leaves, and other natural elements—spaces where he could feel calm, safe, and free to be himself.
Those forts reflected who Ryan was: creative, thoughtful, curious, humorous, and deeply compassionate. His own experiences taught him that people should never be judged at face value. He believed every person has value, deserves respect, and is often carrying struggles others cannot see.
His Quiet Impact.
In the last few years of his life, Ryan quietly reached out to classmates and peers who felt different, excluded, or were facing challenges of their own. He understood what it felt like to struggle and wanted others to know they were not alone.
His belief that acceptance, kindness and human connection can change lives continues to guide the Ryan Bartel Foundation today.
As Ryan often said, “In the end We’re All Human.”