The Tanner's Story - Hope

November 01, 2025

Like many families, we’ve learned that mental health struggles are more common than not. In that way, our story isn’t unique. However, we’ve also seen that most families choose not to share their experiences, and that silence can be isolating.

Our connection to HopeWay began before we ever imagined needing help. We’re longtime friends of the Blue family, who founded HopeWay, and were originally inspired by their vision for what HopeWay could be. We even hosted one of the original young professional events before HopeWay officially opened its doors.

At the time, we supported the mission because it mattered to our community. We had no idea how much it would matter to us personally one day.

A few years later, Ruffin began struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depressive disorder. It was a difficult season for us as a family. There’s this stereotype, especially for men, that you have to be strong all the time. But Ruffin reached a point where we knew he needed help.

We had been to HopeWay’s campus numerous times as supporters. But this time, Ruffin walked through HopeWay’s doors with a different purpose. He was there to get help. Enrolled in the three-day-a-week program, he spent several months learning to manage his symptoms, understand his thought patterns, and develop new coping skills that would support his continued growth and healing.

Ruffin’s time at HopeWay was life-changing for our entire family. The support we received truly felt like someone was wrapping their arms around us and saying, “You’re not alone in this.”

What Ruffin learned didn’t just help him; it has helped all of us in one way or another. We use the tools he learned every single day as a family. It changed how we talk to each other, how we listen, and how we show grace. Ruffin’s time in treatment did not create distance or stress for our family; instead, it has strengthened our bond in countless ways. It also made us realize just how important it is to talk openly about mental health and our feelings, especially with our kids.

Recently, we attended HopeWay’s Hope Starts Here event as a family. This event was designed for kids and their parents to learn about mental health in an approachable way. Being there as former clients, donors, and parents made it feel like our story had come full circle. We were able to talk with our daughters about their feelings, something we might not have known how to do before.

We plan to use what we learned that day as a resource for our girls as they grow up. We want them to understand that emotions are part of being human, and that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it.

Today, we continue to be proud supporters of HopeWay because we’ve seen firsthand how it changes lives. Charlotte is incredibly lucky to have a place like this, and we want more families in need of mental health support to experience the same hope and healing. It sounds cliché, but HopeWay truly gave us hope. It gave us language, tools, and a community that continues to support us even now.