"After our daughter Micaela died by suicide in 2016, our family struggled to make sense of our tragic loss. We wanted to prevent this from happening to another family and quickly learned there was a great need for suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and accessible resources. M;caela’s Hope began in 2019 from a grieving father’s heart. Inspired by his experiences in a Leadership Muscatine class, Brian, alongside Brian Mussehl and Zach Kinrade, founded M;caela’s Hope to make a lasting difference." ​- Alma and Brian Brunson

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Alma and Brian established multiple charitable funds through the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine to honor Micaela’s life and legacy. The family awards annual scholarships from the Micaela L. Brunson Scholarship Endowment Fund to graduating seniors from Muscatine High School that are entering a helping profession. They also support youth mental health initiatives in conjunction with the Muscatine Community School District and the community through the Micaela’s Hope Endowment Fund and Micaela’s Hope Charitable Fund.

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Micaela’s Hope lives out its mission to raise mental health awareness and prevent suicide by providing elementary students with age-appropriate books to destigmatize mental health, and middle and high school students with bracelets, keychains, and t-shirts that carry Micaela’s message of hope. Through sharing their story and engaging with the community, Alma and Brian continue to honor Micaela’s memory and ensure her light lives on.