Kory Jacob Hendrickson Foundation

Honoring Kory.
Creating Ripples of Hope.

We invest in connection, compassion, resilience, legacy, and hope — helping acts of kindness create lasting impact for generations.

Support the Mission Explore Our Story

How We Got Here

Kory’s Story

Kory Jacob Hendrickson was a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a loyal friend, and a successful professional. Dedicated, trustworthy, giving, and deeply caring, Kory was someone people could count on. Professionally, Kory had built a successful career and had recently earned a promotion. Personally, becoming a father was the role that meant the most to him.

By so many traditional measures, Kory’s life was full. Yet his story is also a powerful reminder that mental-health challenges do not discriminate. They can affect anyone, regardless of success, family, friendships, regardless of how life may appear from the outside. Kory died by suicide, leaving a shocking and unimaginable loss for his family, friends, and everyone who loved him.

But we do not want Kory to be defined by how his life ended. We want him to be remembered for how he lived — and for the good that can continue because he was here. We cannot change what happened, but we can choose what comes from it. The Kory Jacob Hendrickson Foundation was created to turn grief into purpose, tragedy into positive action, and Kory’s memory into meaningful support for others.

We believe a conversation, a counselor, a friendship, or a simple act of kindness can change the course of someone’s life — and that impact can ripple outward in ways we may never fully see. Hope creates ripples. Through every person helped, counselor supported, partnership created, and act of compassion inspired, Kory’s legacy continues.

See What We Do
Kory Jacob Hendrickson Foundation — Hope Creates Ripples
Kory Jacob Hendrickson

We cannot change what happened, but we can choose what comes from it.

The heart of our mission

Why We Exist

The Need We Are Addressing & Core Values

Mental-health challenges touch every community. We begin by naming the reality — then respond with the values that guide our work.

The Need We Are Addressing

2nd

leading cause of death for Americans ages 10–34

39

Americans ages 10–34 are lost to suicide every day

48%

of those with a mental illness received no treatment at all last year

73%

of the nation’s mental-health therapist need goes unmet

30%

higher suicide rate for adults ages 25–34 than ages 15–24

Every statistic represents a person, a family, and a story. These are the gaps the Foundation exists to help close.

Our Core Values

“One act of kindness can ripple thru generations.”

Connection

Build bridges between people, families, schools, communities, donors, and organizations so no one feels alone.

Compassion

Lead with empathy, kindness, and practical support for people facing grief, anxiety, stress, isolation, trauma, or loss.

Resilience

Help young people and families develop skills, support systems, and confidence to move through adversity.

Legacy

Honor Kory by turning love, memory, and family values into lasting impact.

Hope

Fund and inspire programs that create possibility, healing, and forward movement.

Where We Are Headed

Our North Stars

We want to measure our success by what changes—not simply by how many people see our name.

North Star 1

32young people / year

Help at least 32 young people each year

Our goal is to help at least 32 young people who enter a KJH-funded initiative carrying suicidal thoughts and leave in a measurably better place.

North Star 2

1,000reached · 100 taking action

Keep Kory’s memory alive—and moving

Each year, our goal is for at least 1,000 people to meaningfully encounter Kory’s story, with at least 100 taking a measurable action because of that encounter.

Measurable actions can include donating, volunteering, participating in an event, engaging with a mental-health resource, attending a program, becoming a partner, or taking another meaningful step.

What We Do

Mental Health Access & Impact Fund

Turning awareness into access—and access into measurable impact.

The Mental Health Access & Impact Fund invests in programs and partnerships that put meaningful mental-health support closer to people when they need it most.

Our goal is not simply to create awareness. It is to help people receive meaningful support—and to measure whether that support makes a difference.

Youth Access

Increasing access to qualified mental-health professionals for young people—beginning with a planned school-based therapist through CHADS Coalition for Mental Health.

Early-Career & Workplace

Supporting young adults early in their careers: workplace mental-health education, manager and HR intervention training, and reducing barriers that keep employees from using resources already available to them.

Measurable Impact

We don’t stop at awareness. We help people receive meaningful support—and measure whether that support truly makes a difference.

Our First Major Ripple

Planned for 2027: Our First KJH-Sponsored Mental-Health Therapist

One of the most important directions we are pursuing is also one of the most direct: put qualified mental-health support where young people already are.

Through our planned partnership with CHADS Coalition for Mental Health, the Kory Jacob Hendrickson Foundation intends to sponsor one full-time Youth Mental Health Therapist for a nine-month school year.

The therapist will work with young people and families facing challenges including anxiety, depression, self-injury, suicidal thoughts and other mental-health concerns, with services coordinated closely with schools and community partners.

We will share details on who our Therapist is, the Schools supported, and the number of young people served; as well as midpoint and year-end measure of the impact being created.

Our first therapist, Our first school year. A measurable opportunity to change lives.

A partnership between

Kory Jacob Hendrickson Foundation — Hope Creates Ripples × CHADS Coalition for Mental Health

Measuring What Matters

2027 Impact Dashboard

We want to show not only our goals, but our progress against them. As the CHADS therapist begins and reporting arrives, we’ll update these with real results.

1

Sponsored Therapist

2027 Goal

Sponsor one full-time, nine-month Youth Mental Health Therapist.

32

Young People Meaningfully Helped

2027 Goal

At least 32 young people experiencing suicidal thoughts who receive KJH-funded support and demonstrate measurable improvement.

1,000

People Meaningfully Reached

2027 Goal

At least 1,000 people meaningfully encounter Kory’s story.

100

Actions Inspired

2027 Goal

At least 100 people take a measurable action as a result.

The Hendrickson Family Match

$100,000

Every eligible new dollar donated will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Hendrickson Family, up to an additional $100,000.

$100→$200
$1,000→$2,000
$10,000→$20,000

We are committing the first therapist. Your support can help us sustain the impact and create the next ripple.

Double My Gift

How We Create More Ripples

The Fund creates the impact. Partnerships and events help enable and multiply it—extending every ripple further than a single gift ever could.

Partners in Hope

Hope Creates Ripples · One act of kindness can ripple thru generations

The Kory Jacob Hendrickson Foundation’s mission is strengthened through partnerships with individuals, businesses, schools, nonprofits, and community leaders who believe in the power of meaningful action. Whether you give $500 or $50,000, your partnership creates ripples that extend far beyond a single gift.

Ripple Makers

Range$500–$2,499
Match ValueUp to $4,998

What You Receive

  • Foundation website recognition
  • Founding Donor status
  • Mission alignment acknowledgment
  • Invitation to annual donor event

Tide Changers

Range$2,500–$4,999
Match ValueUp to $9,998

What You Receive

  • All Tier 1 + event signage at Golf & Fishing Invitationals
  • Social media recognition
  • Donor reception invitation
  • Impact report

Wave Makers

Range$5,000–$9,999
Match ValueUp to $19,998

What You Receive

  • All Tier 2 + premium event placement
  • Branded hole or station
  • Personal thank-you from Foundation leadership
  • Co-branded partnership materials
Signature

Tidal Force

Range$10,000+
Match Value$20,000+

What You Receive

  • All Tier 3 + presenting sponsorship of a signature event
  • Naming rights for event element
  • Exclusive Foundation dinner
  • Dedicated annual impact briefing
  • Named recognition in all Foundation materials

Interested in partnering?

Contact us to start a partnership conversation.

Become a Partner

Events That Create Connection

Join us.

Annual Event

Golf Invitational

Canyata Golf Club · July 7–8, 2026

A premium day of connection and generosity on the course — honoring Kory while raising support for the Foundation’s programs.

Golfers with the Kory Jacob Hendrickson Foundation banner at Canyata Golf Club
Annual Event

Fishing Invitational

Date & location — details coming soon

The Fishing Invitational celebrates connection, community, and tradition while helping create lasting ripples of impact for youth and families.