Transforming Grief into Purpose: The Sun Will Rise Foundation's Inspiring Journey

In the face of unimaginable tragedy, one mother's determination to find solace and support has blossomed into a powerful movement that is changing the lives of countless individuals impacted by the opioid crisis. This is the story of Robyn Houston-Bean, whose son Nick's untimely passing at the age of 20 led her to establish The Sun Will Rise Foundation, a beacon of hope for those grappling with the devastating effects of substance abuse and overdose.

Turning Tragedy into Triumph: Robyn's Inspiring Journey

A Lifeline for the Grieving

Robyn Houston-Bean's world was shattered when she lost her son Nick to a polysubstance overdose. Confronting the depths of her grief, she found solace in connecting with other families who had experienced similar heartbreaks. "I didn't know how to go on. I really didn't. I was always a type A personality, and this brought me to my knees," Houston-Bean recounts. "It was the power of connecting to peers, to people who understood what I was going through. That made a lifeline connection for me. And that's what I wanted to give back to the rest of the community."

Establishing The Sun Will Rise Foundation

Driven by her desire to support others in their time of need, Houston-Bean founded The Sun Will Rise Foundation in Braintree, Massachusetts, shortly after Nick's passing in 2015. The organization's mission is to provide grief support to individuals and families impacted by the ongoing opioid crisis. "It's peer grief support because every facilitator that we have is a person with lived experience. They have experienced a similar type of death," Houston-Bean explains, underscoring the importance of empathy and understanding in the healing process.

Addressing Stigma and Blame

The Sun Will Rise Foundation's work extends beyond simply providing support; it also aims to tackle the societal stigma and blame often associated with overdose deaths. "We've come a long way, especially in Massachusetts, but there's still that feeling that there's a blame, shame or something that could have been prevented with these deaths. And so there's a lot to discuss," Houston-Bean says, acknowledging the need for open and honest conversations to destigmatize the issue.

Expanding Reach with State Funding

The Sun Will Rise Foundation's impact is poised to grow even further, thanks to a 0,000 grant from the state of Massachusetts as part of the opioid settlement funds. This influx of resources will allow the organization to expand its reach beyond the South Shore, serving grieving individuals and families across the state. "We're really trying to grow and build the field so that there's a longer-term strategy and deeper impact to really end the overdose crisis with these dollars," explains Julie Burns, president of RIZE Massachusetts, the organization overseeing the distribution of these funds.

A Renewed Commitment to Supporting Grieving Families

As The Sun Will Rise Foundation prepares to expand its services, Houston-Bean remains steadfast in her commitment to supporting those affected by the opioid epidemic. "Our people are never coming back, so that fix is never going to happen. But with this amount of money, what we can do is support the families that have experienced the most devastating losses of their lives due to the opioid epidemic," she says, determined to turn her personal tragedy into a source of hope and healing for others.