Fill UT with Heart Rocks Starting in its Schools

Hello! I am Tom, "The Heart Rock Guy."

Why heart rocks? My story. My mission.


My Story:

 

Several years ago, I lived in Ocean Shores, Washington. I taught high school Spanish and collected naturally shaped heart rocks on the beach.

 

One particularly rainy winter, our small community was shaken by several deaths by suicide. I found a naturally shaped heart rock on the beach and decided to give it to one of my students. Then I thought, "I want to give all of my students a heart rock." I bought a little tile saw and began making my own heart rocks. 

As soon as I had enough natural and homemade heart rocks, I brought them to school and let my students choose their favorites to be their personal reminders that they matter and are loved. 

After school that day, 24 students returned to my classroom and said they had given away their heart rocks and asked for more. They began naming the people they wanted to give them to. 

I realized in that moment that heart rocks are not only powerful personal reminders but also tools for compassion. 

I began carving hundreds of heart rocks, and my students gave them away.

 

A few months later, my family was touched by suicide.

 

I moved home to Utah to support my little sister, and I brought my heart rocks with me. I determined I would do everything in my power to prevent suicides in Utah. I realize not all suicides are preventable, but I believe that giving people simple, frequent reminders that they matter and are loved can help. 

And so it began. 


My Mission:

In the past two years, I have carved over 19,781 heart rocks. I have individually given away over 10,000 of them. Families in all 50 states and in 50+ countries use my heart rocks to remind them that they matter and are loved. 

 

I have donated thousands of heart rocks to schools, hospitals, recovery centers, nursing homes, counseling centers, and many non-profit organizations. 

My mission is to fill Utah with heart rocks to remind people that they matter and are loved. 

 

I am now a full-time motivational speaker, stone carver, and small business owner.

I have volunteered hundreds of hours teaching workshops and doing assemblies about suicide prevention all over the country. I tell stories about experiences I have had giving away heart rocks to thousands of individuals. 

I know that heart rocks help save lives. When used intentionally, they remind us that we matter and are loved. When given away with a message, they foster compassionate conversation. 


How You Can Help:

Would you like to help me fill Utah with heart rocks? 

Please consider making a donation or sharing this information. 

All of the funding goes towards creating heart rocks and distributing them to local classrooms. 

 

Take Heart,

Tom Ballard