Patricia McKay Verbeeck’s 17-year-old child took their life by suicide on March 6, 2018. Hope, born as Eric Verbeeck, was in the process of a gender transition to female.

People across South Florida are opening their hearts and contributing to YES Institute in Hope’s memory, honoring a request Hope made in a goodbye letter. The obituary and an interview with Patricia appeared in the Miami Herald.

You can prevent the heartbreaking loss of a young life. Consider a contribution to the 2019 Hope Verbeeck Fund that allows for YES Institute educational dialogues in schools, that can reduce stigma and bullying on gender and orientation.

If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the Miami-Dade 2-1-1 JCS Helpline or access the mental health agencies and resources on YES Institute’s Miami-Dade Gender & Orientation Resource Guide.

2019 Hope Fund Donors

$30,000 Goal with $15,000 Matching Funds from Patricia Verbeeck
Total Contributions =	$1,175
Total Matched Funds =	$1,175
Total 2019 Hope Fund =	$2,350
Donors
Patricia Verbeeck - $1,175 Matching Funds	Tamera Ezrol Olga Halley Christina Lantigua Maureen Lyons de Gonzalez Robert Oldakowski & Luis Mendoza Alina San Giovanni Libby Witherspoon James Zimmerman

2018 Hope Fund Donors
Leading donors who contributed to the beginning of the Hope Fund.

Visionary Level	Professionals Society Level
Patricia Verbeeck	Suresh & Sheila Chainani
Mentor Level	Marika Lynch & Adrian Villaraos
Cécilia de Almeida Frachesen	John Sugden
	Michael Villasana

Additional Contributions
Caryn Amster	Megan Killion
Milagros Blanc	Charles McCutcheon
Jeffrey Brosco	Marty McGuire
Helen Brotherton	Hilda Mitrani
Elissa Chakoff	Jose Prendes
Julissa Chirinos	Irene Pilinger
Lauren & Alan Cohn	Eve Pinder
Lois & Walter Cook	Alina San Giovanni
Marty Davis	George Sauvigné
Helen Farber	Lisa Sloat
Suzan Farber	Danielle & Leonard Strickman
Fred Fejes	Kimberly Vine
John & Paula Festa	Allison Weinstein
Eric Hankin	Hope & Mark Wigmore