About us
Being A Teen Today Isn’t Easy.
Many are navigating anxiety, stress, loneliness, and the pressure to keep it all together—often without feeling seen or understood.
That’s why we create safe, supportive spaces where young people find connection, belonging, and hope, while building lifelong skills for resilience and emotional wellness.
Our approach
Programs That Change Lives.
Through engaging, meaningful experiences, our programs bring teens together to build connections, strengthen resilience, and gain practical tools to face life’s challenges.
The FORT At School
Brambleton Middle School Register: Free The FORT At School is a free mental wellness workshop series similar to…
The FORT Hangout
Social 2hr session: Falling Into Friendship! It’s your time to connect with the crew as we think about…
Notes Of Hope Gala
Some evenings bring people together for something they can feel long after it ends. The Notes of Hope…
By the numbers
Real Connection. Lasting Impact.
Our impact reflects what matters most: teens feeling less alone, more understood, and better equipped with real tools to navigate life.
91%
teens
feel more connected to peers and adults.
500+
program participants
served in 2025.
90%
teens
report improved ability to communicate their feelings.
98%
learned
a new skill to use when feeling stressed, anxious or sad.
Give hope
Connection Starts With Community.
The need for teen connection is growing—and we can’t meet it alone. Your support helps reach teens early, before isolation deepens, creating consistent spaces where connection can grow and belonging can take root. Together, we can build a community where every teen feels seen, supported, and never alone.
Thank You To Our Major Funders.
Follow Us.
Hello RBF Family!
Join us in supporting The 7th Annual Live4Lane Memorial Walk. Get connected with a caring community in advocacy for teen mental health and ending the stigma! Plus it`s a fun, energizing way to get gentle exercise and grow the movement.
🚶 Walk our family- and dog-friendly 2.5K/5K course
🙌 Volunteer — student service hours are available!
📍 Lowes Island | Sterling, VA
📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
⏰ Registration 8 AM | Walk 9 AM
Come out and support a local nonprofit while bringing our community together for youth mental wellness. ❤️
Walk or volunteer: Live4Lane.org/walk
Please share with your neighbors!
#TeenMentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #live4lane
Do you play Mahjong? Would you like to learn?
Tiles for Hope is a Mahjong Tournament benefiting the Ryan Bartel Foundation, with proceeds supporting programs that promote teen mental health, resilience, and suicide prevention. 🤲
The tournament is for ALL levels and we are offering free lessons for new players preceding the event! 💚
✨🐉 Join us and Mahj for a Cause!
November 8th
9am – 3pm
River Creek Clubhouse, 43800 Olympic Blvd. Leesburg, VA
Learn more: ryanbartelfoundation.org/tiles-for-hope/
Register today at: https://tinyurl.com/4r2mvw2s
#MahjongForACause #MahjongTournament #RyanBartelFoundation #TeenMentalWellness #YouthMentalHealth
Welcome to another new sponsor, @sandstonecare tone Care, to the Ryan Bartel Foundation family!
Right from our very first conversation, it was clear that the team at Sandstone Care unquestionably shares our mission for preventing youth suicide and supporting teen mental health. We are so excited for what we will accomplish together.
By stepping up to support our mission, they are proving their belief in building a caring and compassionate community. Their investment will directly help us create safe, welcoming spaces and offer proven programs that support teen mental health before a crisis occurs.
Please join us in giving Sandstone Care a massive welcome! Together, we are ready to transform teen lives through belonging, connection, and hope. 💙
Find out more about the 2026 Notes of Hope Gala on October 10th: www.ryanbartelfoundation.org/notes-of-hope
#WelcomeToTheTeam #TeenMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #RyanBartelFoundation
Falling Into Friendship! It’s your time to connect with the crew as we think about new friendships we’ve made this fall. We’re going to explore how positive friendships grow through games, shared experiences, and creativity!
Sign for The FORT Hangout
⏰ When: Friday, Oct. 9th, 7-9pm
📍Where: Crossroads United Methodist
🎟 All are welcome! Must sign up to attend: https://tinyurl.com/yhy6psny
To learn more about The FORT Hangout visit: https://tinyurl.com/35x4cjmd
#TheFORTHangout #RyanBartelFoundation #TeenMentalWellness #YouthMentalHealth
