STOP 22's mission is to reduce veteran suicide by building community.

STOP 22 will reduce the risk of suicide amongst veteran populations through three core paths:

1) providing educational/vocational support through scholarships to accredited universities and trade schools;

(2) providing pro bono legal assistance through a voluntary attorney referral network; and

(3) providing opportunities for veterans to commune and engage with one another.

After serving in the US Marine Corps and with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Eric Honea, the CEO/Founder of STOP 22, enrolled in law school at the UMKC School of Law. With Eric's GI Bill long depleted, Eric faced paying the cost of law school out of pocket. Fortunately, Eric was provided with a scholarship opportunity based on his prior military and public service. Following law school, Eric sought to pay forward the financial gift to other veterans who experienced the same financial challenges that he encountered while pursuing his educational goals.

In 2023, to honor Eric's son, Christian Lee Honea, a Marine who fell to suicide following his return from overseas duty in 2018, and with the help of four amazing Kansas City based attorneys, Eric established the Christian Lee Honea Memorial Scholarship Endowment to help veterans with the cost of tuition entering law school at the UMKC School of Law. Since that time, Eric founded STOP 22 with the mission of reducing veteran suicide in a non-traditional ways. One of those ways is providing veterans, their spouses, and their children with undergraduate and vocational scholarships in order to build a foundation of support for veterans suffering from PTS, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and who, maybe even unknownly, are in search of the community once experienced in their service to our Country.

You may be asking what does the 22 mean? In 2012, a study by the Veterans Administration (VA) found that 22 veterans committed suicide each day across the country. In 2023, the VA found that the average number of veterans committing suicide each day had fallen to 17. While, a decrease of five veteran deaths per day is a great thing, it is also a declaration that we, as a country, and as supporters of our military have a long way to go in our efforts to reduce suicide amongst veterans. Efforts that need to take the non-traditional approaches that STOP 22 is taking.

You can help STOP 22 serve those who first served us by supporting the Christian Lee Honea Memorial Scholarship Fundraising Event, with your attendance, sponsorships, and participation in our silent auction. All funds raised go to supporting scholarships and the adminstrative costs associated with building community among veterans such as STOP 22's Student Veteran's Day at the K. A joint opportunity between The Royal's and STOP 22 that provides 200 tickets to veterans enrolled in higher education to attend a baseball game on a designated day, with tailgate and community building opportunities supported by area universities and STOP 22.

For our returning sponsors, donors, and auction participants, thank you for your continued support, we would not be where we are without you! For those joining our journey and community, welcome, and thank you for seeing our vision and mission of reducing veteran suicide. We look forward to seeing each one of you on Friday, November 13, 2026!

Sincerely,

Shelby Johnson, STOP 22 Board Chair

The 2026 Christian Lee Honea Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser