Zack's New Joy Event

On April 19, 2019, our son, brother, friend, Zachary Hirt, after decades of success in the restaurant industry, took his life.

Of all occupations, the hospitality and restaurant industry reports the third highest rate of heavy alcohol use (11.8%), the highest rate of illicit drug use (19.1%) and the highest rate of substance abuse disorder (16.9%) - all of which far exceed national averages. What’s more, while the industry ranks between the 13th and 19th for most suicides by occupation, it comes in just second in terms of suicidal ideation, with 5.7% of workers reporting they had considered killing themselves within the last year.

It has been three years since Zachary left us, so in his memory and honor, his family as well as his restaurant, NuevoCleveland, are conducting an event to raise money and awareness for a "Scholarship Access Fund" to assist restaurant personnel accessing mental health and substance abuse counseling services in Summit and Cuyahoga Counties in Ohio. We are conducting a fundraiser at NuevoCleveland on April 29th to establish funds and a coordinated process for restaurant workers who need help, to have a quick way to obtain that help. We hope you can join us in that event, but this GoFundMe account is a way for you to contribute to Zack's cause and this important endeavor if you are unable to attend in person.