Channeling Grief into Impact: Susan Owen of the HAMO Foundation

In the fall of 2020, tragedy had struck for the Gilbert Community. The death of Henry Owen was not only heart-breaking, but eye opening. As an avid reader and athlete, Henry was seemingly the happiest kid. Even though Henry completed a suicide assesment and therapy session the Monday prior, Henry committed suicide on September 17, 2020. Susan owen, Henry’s mother, realized something needed to change.

The Henry Alan Munson Owen (HAMO) foundation was created by Henry’s mother, Susan Owen, in honor of her son. Throughout her profound grief, Susan channeled her inner pain into motivation for the start of this foundation. Working tirelessly, Susan along with various others created the HAMO foundation to bring mental health support and resources to the Gilbert community. By partnering with movingmindfully and Guided Ascent, the foundation has expanded its reach, offering accessible mental health resources to students and families.

The HAMO foundation includes two primary initiatives: Henry’s Helpers and Here to Hear you. Henry Owen had been an ardent reader, growing up surrounded by books and even taking part in the Battle of the Books since fourth grade. In honor of Henry, Susan worked with Henry’s Battle of the Books team and teacher Kiley Sanduka to create Henry’s Helpers. Henry’s Helpers is a literacy program, promoting literacy through volunteer reading to the community. In the past five years, Henry’s Helpers have contributed over 350 hours to the community. Additionally, the HAMO foundation’s second prime initiative is Here to Hear you: a program with the goal of bridging generational gaps and creating a group of support and belonging. Having meetings and participating in various activities, the program encourages participants to speak openly, building meaningful connections with trusted adults and peers. With high schoolers being a target audience for the HAMO foundation, Susan Owen notes, “I want to empower the kids to know this is four years in your life. It’s a blip.” 

Apart from these two main initiatives, the HAMO foundation has provided $65,000 in scholarships in the past five years to encourage growth and foster success in young adults and students. Additionally, with the help of Ames High School’s industrial department, the HAMO foundation is working to build an additional satellite office on top of the Pumpkin Patch. The HAMO foundation has expanded beyond just Story County: it is now partnered in 3 countries and various states across the United States, such as Florida and Colorado.

As the foundation continues to grow, its impact has become more and more measurable: although Story County suicide rates have begun to decline, statewide rates continue to rise, highlighting the importance of HAMO’s ongoing efforts. Susan says, “I want kids to know about our resources, about our scholarships, about guided ascent…but its more empowering the kids, build your own. Here to hear you, that’s the most simple thing in the world and meaning it.” 

HAMO Foundation. “HAMO Foundation.” HAMO Foundation, 2019, www.hamofoundation.org/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

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