This memorial Fund was established in March 2002 with the monies from Jon’s personal savings and his Prepaid College account.  The fund has continued to grow with donations from many generous souls...  friends, family, coworkers and our union brothers and sisters. Everyone’s encouragement, kindness and generosity have allowed us to help many other children in Jonathan’s name. This was the goal and we want to let you know where the money goes. Besides miscellaneous donations to various youth and educational causes, the Memorial Fund has made the following awards to date.
 

Key West High School Awards
2005 graduates - 8 ($500) scholarships
2006 graduates - 2 ($500) scholarships

2007 graduates - 3 ($500) scholarships
2008 graduates - 1 ($750) scholarship

 

Southernmost Hockey League Team Sponsorships
2003-04 season for the “Juggernauts” 12-13 year olds
2004-05 season for the “Juggernauts” 12-13 year olds
2006-07 season for the “Juggernauts” 13-14 year olds
2007-08 season for the "Juggernauts" 12 and under

 

ISKCON Youth - Faith based summer bus tour for teens
2003 - 2 ($500 ) sponsorships
2004 - 2 ($500) sponsorships
2005 - 2 ($600) sponsorships
2006 - 2 ($700) sponsorships

2007 - 2 ($750) sponsorships
2008 - 3 ($500) sponsorships

 

In the future we also hope to develop and or sponsor school programs that encourage character development. That would include programs that foster personal growth, programs that promote interfaith and diversity communication, and programs that encourage kids to make responsible and safe choices in life.

No parent is ever prepared to lose a child, just as no child is ever prepared to lose a sibling. This is a devastating loss for a family and also close friends. How can we comprehend this? What does it mean anyway, “to lose” someone? When do we find them again, can we ever find our sanity again? What can we do after this devastating pain of loss that will change anything, that will help us accept this new and different reality? After 5 years, I am still struggling to find the complete answers to these and many other questions. I do not know if there even is an answer, but I do know that Jonathan would not want any of us to give up on life. He would want us to share the sweetness of life with others, to do what we can to help encourage a smile, a laugh, a good memory. We keep going each day, hoping to make some sense of this pain and hoping to share some of the sweetness of life that comes to and from a generous and loving heart. Keeping that idea as a guiding star we try to make each new opportunity count.

As a family, we are grateful for all the love and support shared as we travel this road together. We deeply appreciate every single person who has offered a word of encouragement or bought a cookie or donated money, time or effort to help us plant and water this tree in Jonathan’s memory. The list of sponsors is extensive and you know who you are. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.