the #HT40

FOUNDATION

#HT40 is a foundation dedicated to bringing people together through kindness and compassion. To inspire a culture of support through small actions that have a big impact.

Making certain no one feels left alone.

OUR STORY

It’s a fact - small actions matter more than you know.

#HT40 is on a mission to prove it by doing exactly as one young man did himself – show up with kindness.

HAYDEN THORSEN

…is the inspiration behind this foundation.

Hayden was #40 on the ice. But above all, he was a friend to all. He was a leader. The hand on your shoulder. The “How’s it going?” that let you know you weren’t on your own. He was the thread between friends, strangers, and even competitors. Though he left us far too early, the way he lived his life is the guiding light of our foundation.

#40

Our goal

..is to encourage young people to simply be there for their peers through action-oriented initiatives that foster social connectedness. All to create a culture that everyone can feel a part of.

“ People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression. Moreover, studies show they also have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, are more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them.”

— Psychology Today

KINDNESS IS AN INFINITE LOOP

About us

The #HT40 Foundation is led by our Board of Directors, each representing areas of expertise that contribute directly to development of the Shoulder Check brand, mission and its impact.

Rob Thorsen
Founder and Executive Director
Prior to founding and leading the HT40 Foundation, Rob was Head of Brand at Aloha, a thriving plant-based food company.
Prior to Aloha, Rob spent six years as President of Big Spaceship, an innovative digital marketing company, working on blue chip brands such as Google and Starbucks.
Prior to Big Spaceship, Rob held multiple senior brand strategy and business roles at top ad agencies in NYC including Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Mother and BBDO. He led global brand initiatives for companies such as Hyatt, InBev and Unilever.
Sarah Thompson Co-Founder
Sarah is Chair of Fundamentalco, an independent value creation consultancy carved out of Blackstone.
Prior to Fundamentalco, for 13 years Sarah was global CEO of Droga5 an industry defining, creative and strategic agency.
After Droga5 was acquired by Accenture Interactive, Sarah became Global Head of Advertising and Content across all Accenture Interactive agencies across the globe, integrating capabilities companies and overseeing M&A for the division.
Elke Thorsen
Co-Founder
Elke is a sophomore at Darien High School, and member of Darien Arts Center Dance Company.
Prior to DHS, Elke attended Greens Farms Academy in Wesport and went to lower and middle school in Brooklyn at the Packer Collegiate Institute.
Elke is a key youth advisor for the foundation, and continues to extend and inspire the Shoulder Check message at events and in school clubs.
Gary Zegras
Secretary
Dedicated to supporting and developing young athletes, Gary has been the Vice President of Mid Fairfield Youth Hockey Association in Connecticut for 15 years, an elite program with countless Division 1 and NHL players, including his son Trevor Zegras and teammate Spencer Knight. He is Director of Admissions and Athletics at the Breakaway Academy, a private school serving grades K-8, delivering innovative ways of learning combining top academics, elite athletic training and character building. In his spare time, Gary is Senior Director, Sales Americas at Broadridge Trading and Connectivity Solutions.

Pastor Greg Doll
Treasurer
Pastor Greg Doll has been the senior Pastor at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien Connecticut for nine years. He has also served as Pastor at parishes in North Carolina, Ohio and Connecticut.
As a football player for the University of Kentucky, Pastor Doll experienced first hand the transformative power of sports, and appreciates the effectiveness of sports minded ministry. Devoting much of his free time to serving his local community Pastor Doll has coached 35 youth teams, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Darien Little League.
He is also the Chaplain for the New York City Football Club, and a regular guest Chapel speaker for the NY Giants. He serves as the Fleet Chaplain for the Stamford Yacht Club and co-hosts a national radio show called the "Rabbi and the Reverend."
David Droga
Board Member
David is the Chief Executive Officer of Accenture Song and a member of Accenture's Global Executive Management Committee.
Prior to joining Accenture, David was the founder and Creative Chairman of Droga5, a strategic and creative agency based in NY with offices in London, Tokyo, Sau Paulo and Dublin. Founded in 2006, Droga5 has been agency of the year more than 25 times, Adweek and Ad Age Agency of the Decade in 2020.
David is also the most awarded creative in the history of the Cannes international Festival of Creativity, and the youngest person ever inducted into the NY art directors hall of fame and the youngest person ever to receive the Cannes Lions Lifetime Achievement Award. He also sits on the board of the New Museum in NYC.
Heidi Browning
Board Member
Heidi has been the Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer of the National Hockey League for eight years. Heidi is an innovator in mobile and social marketing, and continues to drive thought leadership in the industry.
She has successfully identified and incorporated new marketing technologies and strategies to promote the NHL and broaden its reach across traditional and social channels. She has been named on both Forbes and Sportsnet's most powerful women in sports lists.
Prior to the NHL, Heidi led digital strategy solutions for Fox Interactive Media, Universal McCann, and Pandora.
Leanne Fremar
Board Member
Leanne is the Chief Brand Officer for JPMorgan Chase, leading the firm's brand strategy, creative, advertising, content, video and consumer insights across three flagship brands as well as the lines of business that sit within them.
Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase in 2018, Leanne was the Executive Creative Director of Starbucks leading global brand initiatives and creative campaigns.
She was previously the Executive Creative Director for Under Armour's Women's business, leading the award winning " I will what I want campaign," and the Global Creative Director at Theory for ten years.
Leanne has won extensive creative awards including Marketer of the Year for her launch of the Under Armour campaign.