Our Mission
ForeverU is a nonprofit organization that is empowering youth on their journey of mental health and wellness through personal development programs and experiences.
We were founded in 2012 by Ryan Hesslau, who at the time was only 16 years old, after researching the stories of students his age who had died by suicide. Their stories became his motivation for developing programs that would ensure that youth who were struggling had the resilience to keep living. Today, Ryan continues to lead ForeverU as the President and Executive Director.
Get in touch with Ryan: ryan@joinforeveru.org
The Vision
ForeverU's vision is to ensure that every teen within a community has access to mentorship, a supportive peer community, and opportunities for personal growth.
Board of Directors
Gwendolyn Sterk
Attorney and Team Leader
Sterk Family Law Group, P.C.
Erik Maranto
Development Manger
American Lung Association of Chicago
Shetal Patel
Director of Operations
Aesthetica Day Spa
Amber Schnepp
School Psychologist
Bradley-Bourbonnais High School
Ryan Hesslau
Founder and Executive Director
ForeverU
Troy Griffiths
Certified Public Accountant
Troy W. Griffiths LLC
Dan McGonigle
Vice President
ORA Dental Partners
Kendra Zantingh
Professor of Human Resources
Trinity Christian College
Christina Skrip
Director of Assessment and Referral
Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital
Emily Shayman
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Lewis University
Scott Hullinger
Chief Executive Officer
Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital
Christian Perry
State Director of Community Development IL Criminal Justice Information Authority
Richard Hesslau
Senior Project Designer and Specialist
Sargent & Lundy LLC - Nuclear Div.
Dan Borowski
Central US Territory Manager
3M Commercial Solutions Division
Nathan Lagacy
Licensed Professional Counselor
Mental Edge Counseling