Immediately after Ethan's death, we wanted to do something to honor his memory. A dear friend suggested setting up a scholarship in his name that people could donate to in lieu of sending flowers to the funeral home.
An account at Wheelersburg High School was set up to facilitate these donations. A Facebook page was created as well.
The response was overwhelming.
Donations poured in. EP7 wristbands, and decals were created and sold to assist in collecting funds for the scholarship.
Over the years, I’ve spent time working in professions promoting both human and animal welfare. I often thought how I had seen the worst people have to offer, time and time again. These experiences left me, at various times pondering how little goodness seemed left in the world.
Then came the inconceivable loss of our son just two months ago today. This loss has taken our view of reality and scattered it all over. We will be picking those pieces up for the rest of our lives.
Yet, throughout this horrific ordeal, we have experienced how family, friends, and communities can come together, putting their differences aside, while working for the good of others. Often times, it is a tragedy that reveals the true love and kindness the human spirit can offer.
Then came the inconceivable loss of our son just two months ago today. This loss has taken our view of reality and scattered it all over. We will be picking those pieces up for the rest of our lives.
Yet, throughout this horrific ordeal, we have experienced how family, friends, and communities can come together, putting their differences aside, while working for the good of others. Often times, it is a tragedy that reveals the true love and kindness the human spirit can offer.
As of yesterday, I learned the Ethan Pauley Memorial Scholarship Fund has received a total of $9,619.40.
To say we are amazed...would be an understatement.
These donations arrived from Wheelersburg, and the surrounding communities, but they also came from West Virginia, and Kentucky to Michigan, Indiana, and possibly even farther.
I cannot express how much the growth of this fund means to us, to honor the memory of our son with something so worthwhile is priceless.
Ethan was at the age he was seeking to find his own path, and he was making plans for his future. He had his whole life ahead of him. Though he was an ordinary teenager in many ways, he set himself apart, too. He had a sincere desire to make the world a better place by putting others ahead of his own needs or wants. He so wished to see his friends happy, to see them succeed. He never wished to be acknowledged for these efforts. He brought dedication and enthusiasm, we hear it often now, in such a strong way to whatever he pursued!
A moment that stands out to me from mid-January of this year.
We were running an errand, and E noticed a homeless man with his dog outside of this office. He immediately went digging into his wallet. Parents of teens are quite aware of how stingy they can be with their money. Knowing full well he had very little himself, I watched as he pulled out every cent he had, walk over and give it to the man. After giving him the money, he shook the stranger's hand and gave his dog a pat.
I remember how touched I was to see my teenage son treat strangers so kindly time and time again. It was one of those glimpses, as I've mentioned before, you see the type of person your child is growing up to be. . .
Since our E cannot fulfill his hopes and dreams, it is our desire to be able to help others, in the spirit of our son, as that is who he was.
You are helping us do this. And for that, we are truly grateful.
"Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."- Psalm 106:1-2
To say we are amazed...would be an understatement.
These donations arrived from Wheelersburg, and the surrounding communities, but they also came from West Virginia, and Kentucky to Michigan, Indiana, and possibly even farther.
I cannot express how much the growth of this fund means to us, to honor the memory of our son with something so worthwhile is priceless.
Ethan was at the age he was seeking to find his own path, and he was making plans for his future. He had his whole life ahead of him. Though he was an ordinary teenager in many ways, he set himself apart, too. He had a sincere desire to make the world a better place by putting others ahead of his own needs or wants. He so wished to see his friends happy, to see them succeed. He never wished to be acknowledged for these efforts. He brought dedication and enthusiasm, we hear it often now, in such a strong way to whatever he pursued!
A moment that stands out to me from mid-January of this year.
We were running an errand, and E noticed a homeless man with his dog outside of this office. He immediately went digging into his wallet. Parents of teens are quite aware of how stingy they can be with their money. Knowing full well he had very little himself, I watched as he pulled out every cent he had, walk over and give it to the man. After giving him the money, he shook the stranger's hand and gave his dog a pat.
I remember how touched I was to see my teenage son treat strangers so kindly time and time again. It was one of those glimpses, as I've mentioned before, you see the type of person your child is growing up to be. . .
Since our E cannot fulfill his hopes and dreams, it is our desire to be able to help others, in the spirit of our son, as that is who he was.
You are helping us do this. And for that, we are truly grateful.
"Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."- Psalm 106:1-2
Posted on Facebook 3/22/16
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