Grant Halliburton Foundation hosted its 16th annual Beacon of Hope Community Luncheon on March 25 at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Nearly 600 guests gathered in support of the Foundation’s mission, helping to raise $300,000 for youth mental health and suicide prevention programs across North Texas.

The morning began with a vibrant welcome reception featuring music by DJ Lucy Wrubel, a celebratory champagne wall, and a variety of engaging activations. Guests connected over coffee, shared messages of encouragement on the “Post Your Hope” wall, and spent time with service dogs in training, Eric and Elvis, courtesy of Patriot Paws. Attendees also browsed an array of exciting raffle packages that included vacations, luxury shopping experiences, unique sports events, and more.

The 2025 luncheon began with a performance of A Million Dreams by Syncopation, the a cappella choir from Plano West Senior High School—alma mater of Grant Halliburton, the Foundation’s namesake.

Guests were welcomed by Jenny Anchondo, host and producer of CW33’s Inside DFW, followed by an opening invocation from Father Paul Klitze, rector of Episcopal Church of the Ascension. Guests enjoyed lunch while connecting with friends and supporters.

Luncheon chairs Chris and Brent Bolding expressed their heartfelt thanks to the Grant Halliburton Foundation staff, committee members and volunteers, as well as luncheon vice chairs Amy and Michael Roseman, and founding luncheon chair Barb Farmer.

Amy Halliburton McCloskey, co-founder of the Foundation, then presented her mother, Vanita Halliburton, co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Foundation, with the 2025 Beacon Award. In an emotional tribute, Amy spoke about her brother Grant, whose death in 2005 led to the founding of the organization, and the lasting legacy her mother built to support youth mental health. “My mom knew she wanted to do something in his memory to save other families from the tragedy of suicide and help them get the resources they so desperately need. She, my dad, Alan, and I co-founded Grant Halliburton Foundation in 2006 and set out to do just that—to help as many young people and their families as possible to find help, hope and peace of mind.”

A tribute video honored Vanita’s leadership in raising awareness and changing the conversation around mental health in North Texas. With her father, Alan Halliburton, by her side, McCloskey took the stage to present her with the 2025 Beacon Award—now renamed the Vanita Halliburton Beacon Award in her honor. Vanita received a standing ovation from the audience in recognition of her legacy and impact.

Vanita shared about Grant:

• “As a teen, he once spent his entire savings ($65) on groceries for a friend’s single mom battling cancer and having financial troubles.
• Another time, he jumped off the school bus to gather a boy’s crutch that some pranksters had thrown out the window. Then he ran between houses to hop back on that bus.”
• She used that analogy about jumping off the bus to help others who need help—students, teachers, parents, staff, mothers, fathers.
• “Sometimes, you have to jump off the bus to come alongside those who need help, information, and resources.”

The Foundation’s mission video played next, followed by remarks from Kevin Hall, president of Grant Halliburton Foundation. He reflected on the theme “We Are Grant Halliburton Foundation” and reminded the audience that hope is at the heart of all the Foundation does. “I love that video. We are not just an office or a staff. We are a movement—a collective force of educators, parents, students, volunteers and advocates who believe that mental health should never be an afterthought.” He added, “Vanita, your vision has shaped not only this organization, but also the lives of countless people who will feel your impact every single day. Because of you, WE are Grant Halliburton Foundation.”

The final video shared the Boldings’ story and their journey following the loss of their daughter, Eleanor. “We’re pretty sure that every person in this room knows someone struggling with depression, anxiety, or even suicidal thoughts. Please take a moment to remind them that they are not alone. There is help. There is hope,” Brent said. They asked for people to generously donate to stop the loss of lives.

Eric Nadel, Texas Rangers Radio Broadcaster, introduced a video that shared Drew Robinson’s story. In 2020, Robinson, then a Major League Baseball player, miraculously survived a suicide attempt, resulting in a new-found purpose of helping others and destigmatizing mental health. After playing 12 seasons of professional baseball, he retired following the 2021 season to pursue a full-time role as a mental health advocate, the first of its kind in MLB. Leveraging his tagline, Strength Isn’t Always Physical®, Robinson is dedicated to sharing his journey and showcasing vulnerability to prevent suicide and promote mental health care.

Nadel served as the moderator. Following are some takeaways from their conversation:

Thoughts and Depression:

• Robinson: “Your mind is your servant, not your master. Use our minds to serve us, not tear us down. We control our minds (meditation helps).”
• Nadel: “Choose the thoughts that are meaningful to you. Having gone through the black hole myself, it’s like your brain cells have gone out of control.”
• Robinson: “I was feeling so off, so I got tested, and it was normal. I was the last person I was thinking about. I took care of things, and I was thinking of my family. People don’t fake being depressed. They fake being okay.”

Robinson’s Service Dog:

Robinson: “Ellie (his eight-year-old service dog) is a major antidepressant.”

Mental Health Advocate:

After Robinson’s suicide attempt, he pitched with one good eye for the San Francisco Giants. His situation opened a lot of doors with his teammates to have discussions of mental health and depression. The Giants saw that and offered him an opportunity to be an advocate off the field. He remarked that it’s been “a very fulfilling role.”

Gratitude:

Robinson: “I’m grateful I survived. I am using this horrible decision to help others.”

Nadel: “Be grateful for the little things. Talk about it (depression, anxiety) and get it off your chest.”

Nadel asked, “Why do you think you survived?” Robinson replied, “Because I’m supposed to help people.”

Robinson’s trifecta to maintaining his mental health:

Regular exercise, therapy and journaling.

About Grant Halliburton Foundation: Grant Halliburton Foundation was established in 2006 in memory of a Dallas teen who battled depression and bipolar disorder for several years before his suicide death at the age of 19. The Foundation that bears his name works to help families and young people recognize the signs of mental illness through a variety of avenues including education, conferences, collaboration and encouragement. Since 2006, the Foundation has provided mental health education, training and support to more than 350,000 students, educators, parents and professionals. The Foundation also offers Here For Texas, which includes HereForTexas.com and the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line. These free community tools aim to offer easy access for North Texans seeking mental health and addiction information and resources. Learn more about the Foundation at GrantHalliburton.org.