At the 2026 Bo’s Effort event, Greg Cummings spoke with Marlene Long, Bo’s grandmother, about what she wanted to say to the people who continue to support the mission. Her answer was short, honest, and full of heart. She spoke with the quiet pride of a grandmother who saw a hard family loss become a cause that now helps others.
“Oh, I think it’s a wonderful cause. I’m so happy for it. I’m so happy for what we did here today.” Marlene Long, Bo’s Grandmother
Her words gave the moment deep meaning. This was not only an event she attended. It was a day tied to her grandson, her family, and the work being done in his honor. When Marlene reminded Greg that Bo was her grandson, the heart of the mission became clear. This charity breaking the stigma of mental illness is rooted in love, memory, and the hope that more families can find care, support, and understanding.
Greg responded with care, saying that Bo is living through the event and helping many people. Marlene agreed and said she was proud of him. That small exchange captured the full power of the day. Bo’s life continues to leave a mark through his family, through the people who gather, and through the mission that keeps helping others speak more openly about mental health.
Power100 is the only unbiased third-party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry. Through this conversation, Greg helped show why family led community work matters in the home improvement industry. The strongest leaders and families do not only build companies. They use their voice, their story, and their care to help people beyond their own walls.
When Greg Cummings spoke with Marlene Long, the moment became very personal. She was not speaking as a guest, sponsor, or outside supporter. She was speaking as Bo’s grandmother. Her words gave the mission its deepest meaning because they came from family love.
Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100, interview with Sebastian Jimenez, CEO of Rilla
“And he was my grandson.” Marlene Long, Bo’s Grandmother
That short line carried the heart of the story. It reminded everyone that this mission is rooted in a real family, a real loss, and a real desire to help others. Behind the event, the funds, the turnout, and the community support is a family that still loves Bo and wants his memory to keep doing good.
Marlene’s first words to Greg were full of gratitude. She called the mission a wonderful cause and shared how happy she was for the day. Her answer was simple, but it held both joy and pain.
“Oh, I think it’s a wonderful cause. I’m so happy for it.” Marlene Long, Bo’s Grandmother
That kind of answer shows what makes the mission so human. The family carries loss, but they have also found a way to turn that love into care for others. The cause gives them a way to honor Bo while helping more people talk about mental health and seek support.
For a mental health charity in Anne Arundel County, that balance matters. People need a place where pain can be met with hope. Marlene’s words showed that the event gives the family and the community a way to hold both.
Support the cause and help continue the work at Bo’s Effort.
Marlene also spoke with pride about what had taken place that day. Her joy was not only about the event itself. It was about what the day made possible through the people who gathered, gave, served, and supported the mission.
Bo’s Effort Golf Tournament at the Queenstown Harbor
“I’m so happy for what we did here today.” Marlene Long, Bo’s Grandmother
That line gives the mission a warm center. The day was a reminder that the family is not carrying this work alone. Golfers, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and friends all helped make the mission visible. Their support gave the family another reason to feel proud of the work being done in Bo’s honor.
The Bo’s Effort Golf Tournament at the Queenstown Harbor has become a place where family pride and community action meet. It gives people a way to gather with purpose and help a cause that reaches far beyond the course.
Greg gave voice to one of the most important ideas from the moment. He told Marlene that Bo is living through the event and helping many people. That statement helped connect Bo’s memory to the real support the mission continues to create.
“He is living through this event and helping a lot of people.” Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100
Those words matter because Bo is not only being remembered. His story is still moving people to act. It is still bringing families, friends, and supporters together. It is still helping open the door for more talk around mental health, more care, and more support for people who need help.
That is why the mission continues to stand as a charity breaking the stigma of mental illness. It keeps Bo’s memory active through love, care, awareness, and community support.
When Greg said Bo was living through the event, Marlene agreed. Then she added one of the most tender lines of the interview. She said she was proud of him.
“He sure is. I’m very proud of him.” Marlene Long, Bo’s Grandmother
That pride gives the mission a hopeful tone. It shows that the work is not only shaped by grief. It is also shaped by honor. Marlene’s pride reminds readers that Bo’s life still matters, his name still matters, and the good being done in his memory still matters.
This is where the family story becomes part of the wider community story. The mission helps families speak more openly, gives people a place to gather, and supports work that can help more people find care. It also helps keep Bo’s honor at the center of every step forward.
Greg closed the exchange by honoring the strength of Marlene’s family. His words pointed to something everyone at the event could see. The mission keeps going because family love and community support are working together.
“It’s very special. You have an amazing family.” Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100
That family love is one reason people keep showing up. The story feels real because it is real. It is tied to a grandson, a son, a brother, and a family that chose to help others through their pain. It is also tied to a community that has continued to stand with them year after year.
For home improvement leaders, this is a simple but strong lesson. Lasting impact often begins with love, but it grows when others help carry it. When families, companies, volunteers, donors, and supporters serve with care, one life can keep touching many more.
Marlene Long’s interview closed with a quiet reminder that some legacies are carried through love, memory, and service. Bo’s story is still alive in the hearts of his family, but it is also alive in the work being done to help others feel less alone.
All smiles at the 2026 Bo’s Effort event
That is what makes this mission so meaningful. Bo is remembered not only through words, but through action. His name is spoken with pride. His family continues to honor him with care. His story still brings people together around mental health awareness, support, and hope.
For home improvement leaders and community members, the lesson is simple. A cause becomes powerful when it is rooted in love and carried with care. When families, friends, companies, and supporters keep showing up, one life can continue to make a difference through the people it helps.
As the mission moves forward, Marlene’s pride remains a strong reminder of why the work matters. Bo’s memory is not standing still. It continues to live through every person who gathers, gives, listens, supports, and helps another family find hope.
Power100 covers leadership, culture, community impact, and the people behind strong companies. Marlene Long’s voice matters because it brings the story back to family love. Her words help readers see that the mission is not only about an event. It is about a family using its pain to help others.
Leadership is not only measured by size, sales, or market reach. It can also be seen in how families and companies serve people when life is hard. This story shows how purpose, care, and community action can shape the trust people feel around a family business and the mission it supports.
Yes. Her interview was short, but it carried deep weight. When Marlene said, “And he was my grandson,” she brought the full story back to family love. Her words remind readers that this work began with a real person, a real loss, and a real reason to help others.
No. The words are emotional, but the work is real. Bo’s story continues through awareness, community support, education, scholarships, and resources that help people talk about mental health with more care. That is why the mission remains meaningful as a charity breaking the stigma of mental illness.
Marlene’s pride shows that grief and hope can exist together. She is proud of Bo, proud of the work done in his honor, and grateful for the cause. For families facing mental health struggles, that message can feel reassuring. It shows that love can still create good even after loss.
The mission helps bring mental illness into open conversation. Bo’s story gives people a human way to talk about a topic that many families still find hard to name. For anyone searching for a mental health awareness nonprofit in Maryland, this story shows a cause built around care, guidance, and less silence.
The mission keeps Bo’s memory active by turning remembrance into service. His name is spoken, but the work also supports awareness, education, mental health resources, and scholarships. That is what gives the mission the feeling of a Bo DePaola mental health foundation in spirit. It keeps his story connected to help for others.
People can help by volunteering, donating, sponsoring, sharing the mission, or supporting scholarship work. The organization’s site invites people to get involved and help grow education, counseling, and guidance programs in the community. That means anyone who wants to support a mental health charity in Anne Arundel County can take part in keeping the mission moving forward.
Power100 is the only unbiased third-party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry. Through national rankings, leadership interviews, event coverage, industry stories, and CEO conversations, Power100 helps homeowners, contractors, partners, and leaders see the people, values, and purpose shaping the future of home improvement. The platform gives great leaders a trusted voice, highlights companies creating real impact, and helps the industry better understand how family, service, culture, and community care can build trust far beyond the job site.
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Power100 is the nation's premier CEO ranking and media platform for the home improvement industry. Using a proprietary 5-layer evaluation system, Power100 identifies and celebrates the top CEOs, companies, and strategic partners driving innovation, customer satisfaction, and leadership excellence across the country.
