Thanks to the generosity of several families and leaders, all gifts made to the Lives Remembered, Futures Protected Campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact up to $25,000.

This moment is more than a campaign milestone—it’s a collective opportunity to advance research, prevention, and change. At our recent virtual event, advocates, researchers, and families who have lost loved ones to hazing came together to share their stories, their grief, and their unwavering determination to protect others. Their words remind us why this work matters—and why your support matters now.

Turning Loss Into Leadership

“Robert didn’t lose his life—it was taken from him,” said Pam Champion, mother of Robert D. Champion, who was killed in a hazing ritual as a drum major at Florida A&M University. Pam and her family founded the Robert D. Champion Drum Major for Change Foundation, which works to eradicate hazing and violence on campuses nationwide.

Pam’s words cut through the euphemisms often used to eclipse hazing’s brutality. “We look at hazing as violence,” she said. “And the research is very important—this is the only way we can continue to look at ways of eliminating the deception of what hazing really is.”

Her call to action was clear: education, data, and accountability must guide change.

Data Saves Lives

That belief was echoed by Julie and Gary DeVercelly, parents of Gary DeVercelly Jr., who died during a fraternity hazing ritual at Rider University. The couple’s advocacy helped lead to the passage of the Stop Campus Hazing Act, the first federal legislation addressing hazing prevention and transparency.

“Data drives everything,” Julie said. “Without data, it’s just your opinion or belief.” Their message underscored a theme that ran throughout the evening: research is not abstract—it’s a lifeline. Updated national data on hazing is urgently needed to guide prevention and strengthen policies that protect students.

“The research has been the backbone of everything we do,” Julie added. “It’s past time to have a new study.”

From Grief to Global Change

Jolayne Houtz and Hector Martinez, parents of Sam Martinez, have carried that same determination forward. After their son’s death during fraternity hazing at Washington State University, they launched HazingInfo.org, the nation’s first comprehensive public database of hazing incidents. Their work is grounded in a promise made to Sam—to do everything in their power to prevent another family’s heartbreak.

“The opportunity in front of us is huge,” Jolayne said. “It’s a real chance to save lives, protect our young people, and replace harmful hazing traditions with activities that actually build healthy campus communities.”

A Future Built on Compassion and Courage

Flavia Tomasello and John Tsialas, parents of Antonio Tsialas, spoke about their son’s compassion and leadership—and the urgent need for information transparency. “If Antonio had known that his fraternity was under review,” Flavia shared, “things might have been different. We need to stop the silence and share the information.”

Her words served as both a plea and a blueprint. “We need the research, the data, to tell parents and families that this information is vital,” she said. “And I will not stop talking and sharing Antonio’s story, because this is preventable.”

Justice, Information, and Prevention

Attorney Doug Fierberg, who has represented many of the families who spoke that evening, tied their stories back to systemic change. “The lack of information is connected to the deaths of everyone we’ve heard from tonight,” he said. “Families deserve timely and accurate information so they can protect themselves. That’s what this work is about.”

Doug’s message was a powerful reminder that prevention depends on transparency—and that the research we fund today will save lives tomorrow.

Your Gift, Doubled for Change

The Hazing Prevention Research Lab, led by Dr. Elizabeth Allan at the University of Maine, is the nation’s first independent research lab dedicated exclusively to understanding and preventing hazing. With your help, this work can accelerate—conducting the first new National Study of Student Hazing in nearly two decades, expanding prevention resources, and strengthening accountability at every level.

This November, your generosity will go twice as far.
When you give, you help build the data-driven foundation that saves lives.

Make your matched gift today and contribute to a future where every student belongs—and no one is harmed in the name of belonging.

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