Our Mission

Bo's Effort seeks to assemble community resources to break the stigma of mental illness through education and guidance. We look to fund initiatives that offer awareness to families and individuals seeking to manage their illnesses and live healthy and productive lives. Our cause is a big one. We want to make a difference in mental health and ask for your support for families in our community.

Bo's Effort was founded in 2015, by the DePaola family, and a close group of friends, in honor of their son and brother Bo DePaola, who passed away on May 23, 2015 from an accidental overdose. He was 20 years old — charming with an infectious smile that lit up the room.

Bo was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder when he was 19. Bo and his immediate family were unaware. His teachers didn’t know. His coaches didn’t know. His extended family didn’t know.

Bo and his family lacked the education and awareness needed to get the right support and treatment. This is Bo’s Effort core mission. Together, we are assembling community resources to break the stigma of mental illness through awareness, education, and guidance.

Bipolar disorder often shows up between late teens and mid-twenties. Some experience their first symptoms during childhood, while others develop symptoms later, seemingly out of nowhere. It’s confusing, frustrating, and often terrifying for the person and their family.

Substance abuse often becomes an added layer, as people attempt to self-medicate, ease their pain, and find a solution on their own. This further complicates the issues. Young people with mental illnesses often find their way to rehab, only to be told they are dual-diagnosis and there are limited resources to help.



Bo’s Effort is making real change in our community by helping to soften the stigma that surrounds mental health, providing awareness of resources to those who seek mental wellness, and opening the dialogue once and for all.