Knowing You Matter Holiday of Hope 2nd Annual Dinner
2022-12-04 00:30 UTC | Thousand Hills Ranch in Pismo Beach
The evening is an opportunity to bring the community together to raise awareness about suicide prevention and the importance of emotional health and wellness. New this year is a VIP table sponsorship for $2,500. The sponsorship includes: a table for 10 with a personal waiter who will serve guests a plated dinner and refill beverages, company logo on event banner and program, plus a no-wait check out. The live auction features a one-week stay in Nicaragua, a 7-night stay at an authentic Italian villa in Tuscany that sleeps eight, a concert getaway package to see Carrie Underwood in LA, and several unique, local staycations and experiences.

"When we lost our son Mikey to suicide in 2019, I desperately wanted to connect with other parents who were going through the pain that I was. I struggled to find a way to make those connections. This year, Knowing You Matter held its first grief and trauma process group for parents who have lost a child to suicide, and we currently have a group underway for individuals who have lost a family member to suicide," said Cindy Kullman, founder of Knowing You Matter.

Knowing You Matter partners with local community resources and school districts to fulfill their mission. Their second annual conference, held in September in honor of suicide prevention and awareness month, drew approximately 400 attendees. The event included a resource fair with 31 organizations represented.

The nonprofit offered new grief and trauma support groups this year, one designed for parents who have lost children to suicide and another for individuals who have lost a family member to suicide. Knowing You Matter has also expanded their Hope Bag Project, partnering with several local school districts and including a bilingual (English/Spanish) gratitude journal for all ages and an affirmation coloring book for elementary school students in the bags. Hope Bags bring comfort to those who have lost a loved one to suicide, people who have attempted suicide, and those considering suicide.

"The goal of our event is to bring people together to learn more about the programs that we offer in our community and to raise funds to continue the work that we are doing," said Darrel Kullman, founder of Knowing You Matter. "We're reaching the people who need support the most as we build partnerships with other local organizations to expand our services. The legacy of our son Mikey, who had a gift for making sure people know that they matter, carries on through our programs. We are so grateful to all our donors who make this possible."
