Hopestream Community has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the City of Lake Forest Park to support critical substance use recovery and harm reduction efforts. This marks a powerful full-circle moment for Brenda Zane, the organization's co-founder.
The grant, funded through opioid settlement dollars, will provide $10,000 annually in 2025 and 2026, enabling Hopestream to expand its community support initiatives. Programs will include community workshops, targeted outreach to high school parents concerned about youth substance use, subsidized memberships, and free Narcan distribution to Lake Forest Park residents.
The grant's origins are deeply personal. Lake Forest Park Police Chief Mike Harden, a sergeant in 2013, personally responded to multiple calls involving Zane's son during his substance use struggle. Over a decade later, Chief Harden has been instrumental in bringing this grant to Hopestream.
"There's a beautiful irony in accepting this grant from the city where my son's most challenging years began," said Brenda Zane. "To now partner with the police department that witnessed our family's lowest moments and work together to prevent and support other families facing similar challenges is profoundly meaningful. We're turning a painful chapter into an opportunity to create hope and provide support."
The grant is part of a broader national effort to redistribute funds from opioid-related settlements with pharmaceutical companies and distributors. These settlements aim to support communities still grappling with the ongoing opioid epidemic, funding prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
"Our goal with Hopestream is to interrupt the cycle of youth substance use in our community and provide compassionate, practical support to families grappling with this difficult and dangerous situation," added Chief Harden.
Hopestream Community will begin implementing these new programs in Q2 2025, focusing on community and parent education, family support, and harm reduction strategies.
About Hopestream Community:
Hopestream Community is a nonprofit organization that supports families navigating youth substance use challenges, offering resources, education, and hope.
Hopestream is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides resources, education, and support services to help families and communities impacted by youth substance misuse and addiction. The organization’s mission is to equip parents with vital knowledge, personal connections, and resources they need to create conditions for positive change when they have a child misusing substances and struggling with mental health challenges. Visit hopestreamcommunity.org for more information.