Be Bottle and Hilinski's Hope Raise $28,000 to Help Student Athletes with Mental Illness

BEND, Ore. - Sept. 10, 2018 - PRLog -- According to the World Health Organization, one in four people around the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders in their lifetime. And two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week, Hilinski's Hope and Be Bottle are proud to announce the completion of their first fundraiser, and release of the new special edition H3H bottle, available at https://bebottle.com.

In January 2018, the same month Be Bottle launched, came heartbreaking news - Washington State University's (WSU) starting quarterback, Tyler Hilinski, took his life. Tyler's passing was a shock to all that knew him, and the tragedy cut deep into the heart of Coug Nation, touching students, faculty, alumni, and fans.

Although Be Bottle Co-Founder and Chief Brand Champion, Drew Bledsoe, didn't personally know him, Tyler was a friend and mentor to Drew's son, John Bledsoe, also a WSU quarterback. As one of WSU's most loyal supporters and recognized alumni, Drew was deeply affected by Tyler's passing, and he wanted to help in any way possible to honor Tyler's legacy and to prevent future student athlete tragedies.

Working closely with Tyler's parents, Mark and Kym Hilinski, Drew and the Be Bottle team developed a special edition #3 Hilinski's Hope branded Be Bottle and dedicated 100% of the profits to the Hilinski's Hope Foundation. The Hilinski's Hope Foundation, http://hilinskishope.org, is a nonprofit started by the Hilinski Family to raise funding for programs that help educate, advocate, and destigmatize mental illness among student athletes. The #3 Be Bottle was released in May to honor Mental Health Awareness month, extended into June to meet the significant demand, and ultimately raised $28,000 for the Hilinski's Hope Foundation.

"I'm incredibly honored to be part of this collaboration and I want to thank everyone who supported the effort! I'm also proud that we're going to keep it going and continue raising funds to help Hilinski's Hope reach other student athletes in need," says Drew Bledsoe, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Champion. "Here's my challenge to my fellow Cougs: join us, help us to keep this going, and let's make Tyler's bottles the official bottles of Coug Nation!"

The H3H bottle will be available throughout the college football season on the company's website, with all proceeds once again being donated to the Hilinski's Hope Foundation.

Be Bottle, based in Bend, OR, is a cause-driven lifestyle brand that symbolizes innovation in personal hydration while positively impacting the planet. Be Bottle is on a mission to provide consumers with a better alternative to plastic while helping them look good, feel good, and do good. Be Bottle's stainless steel bottle features modern innovations - like a removable bottom for easy cleaning and a built-in infuser - help the company's overall mission: to rid the world of plastic bottle waste.

To make a contribution to the Hilinski's Hope Foundation, visit hilinskishope.org.

To purchase a special edition Hilinski's Hope Be Bottle, visit bebottle.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:  1-800-273-8255.