Hollie Strano Opens Up on Mental Health During Emotional Avon Event
- Hollie Strano
- May 20
- 2 min read
Published: May 20, 2026 - 7:13 p.m.
AVON, OHIO — Heart of Avon Outdoor Market hosted a special charity night Wednesday evening focused on mental health awareness, bringing community members, vendors and advocates together in Avon during Mental Health Awareness Month.
The event took place at the Heart of Avon Outdoor Market, located at 2536 Stoney Ridge Rd. in Avon, and featured Avon Vendor Night alongside Hope for B.E.S.T. Charity Night. Activities included young entrepreneurs, jazz performers, chair massages, the Friendship APL booth and the Peace Love & Little Donuts truck.
During a Cleveland 13 weather check-in sponsored by Painting Solutions, we spoke with Lori Yeager, executive director of The Hope for B.E.S.T., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on mental health awareness and youth resources.
“I lost my triplet brother, I'm a triplet, to death, suicide in 2018,” Yeager said. “Through the grace of God, I started the Hope for Best, which my maiden name is Best. I turned Best into an acronym: Be the end of silent thoughts.”
Yeager said the organization raises funds for “mental health awareness, resources, and tools for students in our schools.”
“We focus on the whole umbrella of mental health, because suicide is a mental state that took my brother,” Yeager said. “No different than addictions, or eating disorders, or bullying. It's the whole umbrella.”
Yeager said the nonprofit has raised nearly $50,000 through its annual festival over the past four years.
“There’s a growing epidemic, unfortunately, among our youth, and we've got to get to our kids,” she said.
“This is what it's all about, is talking about it,” I said. “I'm never going to shut up because silence does equal death. And I've heard too many stories. And we're going to continue to talk until something changes because it has to.”
During the conversation, Yeager reflected on not knowing her brother was struggling before his death.
“It was silent,” Yeager said. “He was struggling silently that we weren't aware of. And it saddened me. So I was like, we've got to do something.”
Yeager also discussed her book, “By All Means, Just Say It,” adding that proceeds connected to her work support the nonprofit’s mission.
The event continued through the evening despite chilly temperatures and the possibility of rain, with Strano noting overnight lows would fall into the 40s.
Additional information about The Hope for B.E.S.T. can be found through the organization’s website.
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