The Hope for B.E.S.T.
Be the End to Silent Thoughts
a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
About
Lori Best Yeager
Founder of The Hope for B.E.S.T. ™
Lori created The Hope for B.E.S.T., in 2020 after the sudden loss of her triplet brother, Dan Best, death by suicide. Filled with sorrow, grief, and unanswered “whys”, Lori found her thoughts to be scattered and racing aimlessly. They seemed to have no direction, no beginning or end; just as one would enter, another one would come, and then another, and then another. What just happened? How? Why? There were no signs, no warnings… Lori decided to write her thoughts down, which created a collection of over 120 writings; speaking to the silence that needs to be heard.
Author of by all means… JUST SAY IT
Mission
Imagine being given 6,000 things a day to think about. Seems overwhelming, but on average a person will have more than 6,000 thoughts a day! The mind can become a battlefield of information. While not all thoughts carry the same weight (i.e.… meaningless, irrelevant, important, useful, negative, positive, …) they still come, sometimes repetitively. Often, some of these thoughts can and will shape your thinking, decision making and choices.
The Hope for B.E.S.T. recognizes that not every thought needs to be spoken and/or have a voice. However, there are millions of people silently suffering every day from thoughts they are too afraid or ashamed to share: Who will listen? Will they judge me? Will they accept me? Will they understand what I am going through? Will they help me? Their silent thoughts can keep them captive and a prisoner, burrowing themselves into their mind, like cancer; quietly entering, unseen, taking up residence and then spreading.
The Hope for B.E.S.T. mission is to raise awareness and provide support for individuals facing mental health challenges by fostering education, compassion, and access to resources that empower communities to prioritize mental well-being and break the stigma surrounding mental health.
The Hope for B.E.S.T. is a member of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce
$27,000 Raised for Avon Local Schools
The Hope for B.E.S.T. has raised $27,000 to support the mental health programs of Avon Local Schools; programs such as the S.O.A.R. Parent seminar programs, summer bookbags for students struggling with social emotional difficulties, several Executive Functioning Boot-Camps put on by their social workers (Social Skills/anxiety, Behavioral Management, Parenting Strategies, When to seek Help, Resources ), and top expert speakers on topics within the mental health space. The programs/seminars and resources are geared toward specific grades (K-5, middle school, high school) and parents.
2023: Avon Local Schools receives a donation of $10,000 from The Hope for B.E.S.T. for mental health programs and resources.
2024: The Hope for B.E.S.T. contributes a donation of $12,000 to support the mental health programs and resources of Avon Local Schools.
2022: Lori Yeager-Best presents a donation of $5000 from The Hope for B.E.S.T. to the Avon School Board for the benefit of mental health programs.
Press
Lori Best Yeager radio interview on Always Right with Bob Frantz
The Hope for B.E.S.T. on the Common Sense Show with with Rudolph Breglia
Lori Best Yeager shares with Rudy Breglia the origins, inspirations, and mission behind The Hope for B.E.S.T. along with her personal experience with tragedy and the healing process.
Awards
NAMI | Lorain County
Clare Cygan Young Visionary Award
Presented to Lori Best Yeager by the
National Alliance on Mental Illness
"It is the courage to come out in public and share her thoughts and feelings after the death of her brother that makes her a good nominee for this award. Her openness on the grief she is experiencing touches many people, letting others know it is ok to talk about it."