Thirteen years ago, RISE TOGETHER started with a story. It became a movement.

Today we’re proud to share our 13-Year RISE Impact Report. It looks back at what we’ve built from 2013 to 2026, what young people told us, what the evidence shows, and where we go next.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL IMPACT REPORT HERE:

It started with a story

RISE did not start as a nonprofit. It started because people were dying, families were hurting, and too many conversations only happened after a crisis.

RISE was never about telling students that drugs were bad. Storytelling became a bridge to honest conversations about mental health, grief, stress, isolation, belonging, trusted adults, and hope.

13 years at a glance

• More than 500,000 youth reached across our lifetime footprint
• 10,438 students in a peer-reviewed research dataset
• More than 3,000 youth testimonies and written reflections
• About 240 middle and high schools in the research era
• More than 25 states reached

Young people told us where to go

For years, students have been talking back to us in surveys and reflections. Their words describe this work better than we ever could:

“It taught me I can ask for help.”

“It makes me feel like I’m not alone in the battle.”

“I feel like I can speak up more and talk to others more about my feelings after Rise Together.”

When students were asked what they liked most, 76.3% named the personal stories. Story still leads.

From listening to evidence

The surveys we collected from 2014 to 2020 became a peer-reviewed study. In 2025, Ignite & Engage was published in Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, in collaboration with Penn State College of Medicine. It’s an honest look at how students respond to this work, and it helps us keep getting better.

From audience to advocate

The goal was never applause. It was participation. Over 13 years, thousands of students supported their peers, joined projects, and told adults what young people actually need.

Today RISE works on many levels around a young person: assemblies and storytelling workshops, RISE Hangouts, training for educators and parents, community summits, and partnerships with counties and the state. We’ve gone from being invited to speak to being invited to help communities build prevention.

And November is here

We’re living this work on the road this month:

• Thursday, Nov 5: A statewide youth leadership summit in Delaware with the American Lung Association
• Wednesday, Nov 11: The Rise & Thrive Youth Wellness + Leadership Summit at UW–Superior
• Wednesday, Nov 18: RISE programming in Janesville, with a community event that evening at 450 N Crosby Ave

Help us carry it into 2027

This movement has always been built together, by schools, partners, sponsors, families, and young people. If these 13 years mean something to you, help us keep going.

GIVE HERE: www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-support-youth-prevention

Thank you for rising with us.

Nadine + the RISE TOGETHER Team