Future of the Foundation

The biggest challenge facing this young foundation in the future is the need for grants and donations, as well as established and recurring fund-raising opportunities through an existing strategically developed annual calendar of events.  This is especially true in order for the Foundation to continue contributing money to Crime Stoppers, the Laptops for Leaders initiative, or establishing scholarships for education and supporting other crime victims’ rights programs like the ones below:

  • The Laptops for Leaders initiative has been funded from personal funds from the family, as well as donations and contributions from friends and supporters.  This program has traditionally supported approximately 4 college bound students each year, since 2004 to the present.
  • Continuing to enhance and build upon the existing endowed scholarships is also a challenge so that students can leverage the most  from the funding to support their education.  The personal stories of scholarship recipients have been beyond amazing with situations that range from children who fled war torn countries to disparaged families in our own communities.
  • Continuing to develop new venues that support the various campaigns with Crime Victims’ Rights week in April and to support legislation or provide platforms for them to be heard and understood.  The voices of the victims and survivors are often times drowned out or ignored by our judicial system through legal proceedings, and the people who have been harmed have no means of influencing, being heard, or remembered.
  • Maintaining and perpetuating new forums for the Trees of Remembrance event hosted during the holidays for the survivors and victims of crime.  It is important to gather and let their voices be heard in our courthouses and other public venues.
  • Creation of additional fund-raising events for inclusion in the annual calendar is a focus for the future, as well.

The reality that good can exist in the face of tragedy is the platform from which all previous challenges have been met, and why we believe that everyone wants to Make a Difference to work and make the world and our communities a better place.