That event was one of many defining moments for Gary Mendell.
Back on Oct. 20, 2011, Mendell’s son, Brian, committed suicide at the tender age of 25 after battling drug addiction for nearly a decade. The shame, stigma and isolation Brian felt led him to take his own life.
That prompted Gary Mendell to leave a successful business career and start Shatterproof, which is a national non-profit organization geared to work to unite and empower American families struggling with addiction. Shatterproof created a host of ambassadors, supporters and advocates across the nation, and so far 13 states have passed life-saving legislation.