Government officials and hospitality executives joined forces on Sept. 25 in support of Shatterproof, a national organization committed to preventing and spreading awareness for addiction. At the Washington, D.C., event, more than 100 individuals rappelled down the 12-story Lafayette Tower as part of the “Shatterproof Challenge.”
While rappelling down a building may not be as common as raising awareness via a walk, founder Gary Mendell says desperate times call for desperate measures.
After Mendell’s son Brian passed away at 25 following a long struggle with addiction, Mendell wanted to establish an organization to help other families from suffering the same loss. At first, the founder and former CEO of HEI Hotels & Resorts intended to set up a small, local charity that would help a handful of teens dealing with addiction per year. As he started organizing a business plan, he discovered statistics he could not ignore.
“I learned things that really haunted me and changed everything,” he says.
Prior to his son’s death, Mendell says he was not aware of the magnitude of addiction problems in the United States. When he learned there are 25 million Americans actively addicted, with eight out of 10 becoming addicted before their 18th birthday, he was alarmed to find much of the information that exists on addiction is not accessible.
“I was really struck by the fact that our national institutes of health have spent over $10 billion in the last decade developing a body of knowledge that has proven to reduce the number of our kids that become addicted, yet that information is sitting in medical journals and not being implemented across our country,” he said.
The day his son died, 350 Americans also died of substance abuse. Today, that number is closer to 400 per day With such alarming numbers, Mendell set out to create what he calls “the American Cancer Society for addiction.”
“For every major disease in this country, there is one well-funded national organization to reduce stigma and get the information that’s proven to work into our communities and health care system. There was nothing like that for addiction.”
Launched in September 2013, Shatterproof became Mendell’s full-time project as he left his everyday responsibilities at HEI to run the organization. It has gained much generosity from the industry—as displayed at the Washington, D.C., event. Shatterproof is hosting 20 of these events across the U.S. in 2015. This year, hotel companies who have supported the cause include FelCor Lodging Trust, La Quinta, Omni, Starwood, Choice, Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham, DiamondRock Hospitality Company, and many more.
“Addiction has a devastating impact on families and communities and we must do all we can to help combat this disease and support all those who are affected,” said AH&LA President and CEO Katherine Lugar. “It’s been so gratifying to see the hospitality industry rally around Gary and Shatterproof. Since he launched the organization in 2013, countless leaders in the hotel industry have supported him and we will continue, to build on his great work to address addiction head on.”
Hoteliers who want to help, but perhaps are not ready to face new heights, have implemented the Hotel Guest Program, which raises awareness for Shatterproof while also helping the environment. At select hotels, guests are asked whether they would like to reuse linens during their stay and are made aware that a portion of those savings from not washing extra linens will be donated to Shatterproof. More than 20 locations participate.
Mendell says the outpouring of support from the industry from which he came has been touching beyond words.
“People in the hotel industry have helped in so many ways, and have been so generous with their time and money. They have been wonderful in helping me achieve our mission of what we’re accomplishing here,” he says. “I don’t think there is an adjective to describe how it has made me feel.”
