Growing Pains

Get to know the dads behind the Candor Health Executive Board

By Anna Hughes

Growing up is hard.

Sometime around the end of elementary school and during middle school years, clothes start to fit differently. Friends start to act differently. Sleepover talk turns from Barbies to boys. From games to girls.

These years of being caught between being a kid and a teenager are an awkward time for everyone. They’re full of questions and confusion. Candor Health aims to bridge that gap, and smooth out this transition for everyone caught in the terrible tweens.
Through fact-based education on sexual health, puberty, substance abuse prevention, and more, Candor gives students a chance to learn in a judgment-free zone. There, they can ask questions from a trusted professional, rather than finding unreliable answers on a Reddit thread.

Their goal is to positively impact the physical, social, and emotional health of young people through innovative education programs in partnership with parents, schools, and communities. This mission is powerful. So much so that some parents decide to join the Candor team to further their goals and outreach, ensuring that more adolescents learn these important life lessons. Three Hinsdale dads, Steve Hartschuh, Eric Pitcher, and Brad Schmidgall, decided to volunteer their time and talents to do just that.

Steve Hartschuh is proud to serve as secretary of the executive board. He first heard of Candor Health (formerly Robert Crown) in 2016 when his oldest daughter first went through their health education courses in 4th grade. Two years later, Hartschuh attended a presentation on the opioid crisis at Clarendon Hills Middle School. There, a surviving heroin addict shared his story.

Although this man lived through five near-death experiences, he unfortunately watched his son (who he encouraged to use heroin as well) die right in front of him. Despite this heartbreaking and powerful testimony, Hartschuh noticed that only 24 people showed up. There were at least 150 chairs set up for all middle school parents. That’s when he decided to get involved.

Now in his sixth year, he’s still inspired by Candor’s mission to talk about taboo topics that are often dismissed at home. Some of these lessons can be the difference between life and death, and Candor takes these topics seriously, handling them with care and concern.

Eric Pitcher also felt drawn to Candor for their substance abuse prevention programs. He’s seen firsthand how painful addiction can be. One of his older brothers died from a drug overdose as a teenager. He also coached boys in youth soccer who died from drug overdoses as well. Although those events were 50 years apart, it was clear to Pitcher that the need for effective health education remained.

Pitcher first heard about Candor when his two children were students at Madison Elementary School. It wasn’t until they were fully grown that he got involved thanks to a personal invitation to join the board from Candor’s executive director Barb Thayer. He now serves as the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee, where he guides the nonprofit’s budget.

“In my opinion, one of the best gifts we can share with our children is anything that helps them develop a sense of self-confidence, worth, and judgment that guides them away from some of the more dangerous temptations they will encounter,” Pitcher said.

Brad Schmidgall first heard about Candor from Pitcher. After learning more about the organization from Thayer and Board Chair Jeanne Osgood, he decided to join the board about a year ago. As a father to two daughters, Schmidgall was inspired by the mission’s focus on helping kids and teens make informed health decisions, as well as providing drug and alcohol education.

In a world where children are growing up on the internet and social media at such a young age, they have access to an unlimited amount of misinfor-mation and temptations. Schmidgall believes that Candor provides information certainty in an uncertain world. With trained health professionals who care deeply about their responsibilities and role in children’s lives, Candor has been able to expand its reach and mission to the greater Chicagoland area and beyond.

Schmidgall participates in both the finance and development committees. He said the community should be on the lookout for a 50th-anniversary fundraiser in 2025 and for some fun fall fundraising activities as well.

For more on Candor Health, how you can get involved, or donate to support their mission, visit candorhealthed.org. ■