Last Friday marked the ninth annual Dylan’s Hope golf tournament, a community event that raises not only awareness of student mental health needs in Becker schools, but also the necessary funds to ensure that any student needing help is able to receive it.

Dylan’s Hope is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that was started by the family of former Becker student Dylan Aaseby, who died by suicide February 7, 2013. Since his death, the family has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and to put systems in place to help local students.

The foundation website lists its goal as “To open up lines of communication between young people and adults so that this tragedy does not happen to other youth and their families.”

The event began back in 2013 with 106 golfers raising $12,000 and has grown to an impressive 250 golfers who this year raised nearly $40,000 for the foundation.

According to the foundation’s Executive Director, Ryan Obermoller, the event is a reflection of the entire community’s commitment to assuring that any child in need is able to have access to mental health care. Each year, he is amazed by the response he gets from people willing to help with the tournament.

“We have well over 300 people involved in the event, and the support we receive is incredible,” Obermoller says. “The fact that we are able to grow this event every year is amazing.”

Becker schools staff members were well represented among the volunteers this year, as Supt. Jeremy Schmidt, Ass’t. Supt. Minda Anderson and Principals Dale Christensen, Chantel Boyer and Ted Aleckson were all on hand to greet golfers and work the registration table.

According to school district data from March 2021, nearly 200 of the district’s approximately 3,000 students access some kind of school based mental health services.

Obermoller points to those statistics as the reason why he and the rest of Dylan’s family continue to pursue the foundation’s success each year. 

In order to keep improving upon the services offered, Dylan’s Hope relies on a number of business and individuals who sponsor different aspects of the tournament. This year, for example, Studio 5 and Horace Mann - Tom Wenner Agency both sponsored 50/50 raffles on the course and this helped to bring in thousands of dollars. Barb Larson was also busy selling cookies to the golfers and this brought in nearly $500, while Tina Tamm and Jesse O’Neill operated their Plinko game and also raised over $1,000. When these types of efforts are all put together, it’s much more than just a golf tournament and turns into a full day experience.

Obermoller is also quick to credit Ryan and Michelle Hubbard of Hubbard Electric and Troy Tamm of Winlectric for their continuous support over the years.

“Without those two companies and the support of their owners, we wouldn’t be as successful as we are each year,” Obermoller says.

While the participants each year certainly enjoy the golf and camaraderie they share on the course, perhaps no part of the event draws as much anticipation as the live auction, performed each year on a pro bono basis by award-winning auctioneer Col. Ray Henry. 

The live auction event produces an incredible energy each year, as the unique items procured for the benefit draw a raucous crowd who are not afraid to raise their hands with continuous bidding action.

This year, the unique items included a guitar autographed by country music star Dierks Bentley, as well as a framed flag that was signed by former Navy Seal Robert O’Neill, the purported trigger man whose bullet ended the life of Osama Bin Laden during the 2011 military action dubbed Operation Neptune Spear.

With those one-of-a-kind items and the skill of Col. Ray, the bids were fast and furious this year as just six live auction items generated $16,700.

“We can’t thank Col. Ray enough for his dedication in making it to our event each year,” Obermoller says.

With this year’s tournament barely in the rear view mirror, plans will begin shortly for next year’s event and Obermoller is always looking for new businesses and individuals to add to the mix.

“There’s literally too many people to mention in terms of the help we get each year,” he says. “We are thankful for everyone who comes out and helps us as this is truly a community event.”

(Editor’s note: If you or a loved one is at risk of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.)