Meet our Board of Directors

Patricia Derer, President and Treasurer –

Pat Derer co-founded H.O.P.E.S. in 1998 with two survivors who wanted to make a difference for families dealing with mental health issues.  She wanted others to know the signs of depression and help remove the stigma that is associated with this illness.  Her son, Daryl, died by suicide in June of 1997.  Pat is currently serving as President and Treasurer of the organization.

Pat is a native of Madison, Wisconsin and is employed by Don’s Home Furniture as office manager.  She is married and has a grown daughter with two grandchildren.

Email Contact:  pderer@tds.net

Sue Howell, Vice-President and Volunteer Coordinator –

Sue Howell became involved with H.O.P.E.S. by volunteering for the annual walk for awareness.  She joined the Board of Directors in 2004 and is currently Vice-President and Volunteer Coordinator.  Sue became a survivor of suicide when her brother, Mark, died by suicide on February 23, 2001.  Motivated by her loss, she works to bring education and awareness regarding suicide prevention.

Sue lives in Madison, Wisconsin and has been married to her husband, Bob, since 1969.  They have two children and 3 grandchildren.  Sue also works part-time at Penzey’s Spices. 

Email Contact:  howell2@chorus.net

Sara Leikness, QPR Gatekeeper Instructor –

Sara Leikness has been an active H.O.P.E.S. Board Member since 1998.  Sara became a survivor of suicide on November 12, 1997, when her son, Daniel, couldn’t live with the pain of depression any longer and took his life. 

Sara attended a spring conference at St. Mary’s Center in 1998 where she learned of HOPES and volunteered to help.  She feels that it is vital to spread the word about the terrible illness of depression.  Sara has recently received her certification as a QPR Gatekeeper Instructor because it is important to her to let others learn the signs and symptoms of depression and what to do so other families won’t have to suffer a loss as they did.

Sara lives in Stoughton with her husband, Duane.  She has two daughters, Rebecca and Dawn, as well as two grandsons, Phil and David. 

Mary Moldenhauer, Secretary, Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor, and Newsletter Editor –

After the loss of her husband, Dave, in September, 2001, Mary chose to educate herself about depression and suicide for the sake of her three teenage children, recognizing that mental illness is hereditary.  It was at that time she became involved with HOPES and attended their annual Walk for Awareness, as well as an educational seminar in Kimberly.  Since then, Mary has become a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor for suicide prevention and now serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for HOPES.  She is also in charge of the bi-annual HOPES newsletter.

Mary is employed by the Verona Area School District and is an office secretary at Country View Elementary. Email Contact:  paoligal@tds.net

Donna Bichanich, Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor and Quilt and Memory Book Coordinator –

Donna is one of the newer members of the HOPES Board.  Her vitally important duty is the constructing of the “Many Faces of Suicide” Memory Quilts and the maintenance of the Memory Book.  Donna’s husband, Craig, completed suicide in June of 2005.  In addition to her participation on the Board, she is a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor and does volunteer work for the Survivors of Suicide support group.

Donna lives in Sauk City, Wisconsin and prior to that lived in northern Wisconsin for a year and for 33 years in Prairie du Sac.  She has three children and two grandchildren.

Email Contact:  bichanch@chorus.net

Eric Garland, Fundraising Coordinator and Public Relations Consultant –

Eric Garland is a more recent member of HOPES Board of Directors joining in March of 2007.  He is the Fundraising Coordinator and Public Relations Consultant, as well as keeps the HOPES website up to date.  Eric became a survivor of suicide on February 15, 2006, when his only son, Brandon, took his own life.  Since this time, Eric has become a true advocate for suicide prevention, education and awareness efforts.

Eric has lived in McFarland, Wisconsin since 1987.  He and his wife, Trudy, have been married since 1984 and have an 18 year old daughter, Brittney.  He works in marketing with a local fraternal insurance company, National Mutual Benefit.

If you would like to contact Eric, his Email is:  erichopes@charter.net

And if you would like to learn more about Eric’s son, Brandon, you can visit his website at www.brandon-and-natalie.info

Darlene Helming, Student Volunteer Coordinator and Accessories Coordinator –

Darlene has been a member of the HOPES Board of Directors since March, 2007.  She organizes student volunteers for HOPES events and makes the HOPES beaded jewelry.  Darlene became a survivor of suicide in April, 2006 when a very special family friend completed suicide.

Darlene has lived in McFarland, Wisconsin since 1992, is married and has two teenage children, Mike and Kaitlyn.  She is employed as a recruiter for UW Medical Foundation.

Email Contact:  helmingmom@yahoo.com