"Only a life lived for others is a life worth while". Albert Einstein
Giving back through life-changing experiences.
Giving back through life-changing experiences.
Our goal for the Bretherick Memorial Fund is to create a personal legacy of giving by offering a hand-up to qualified candidates in the communities that Suzanne and Richard lived and worked within by means of scholarship to a student or students attending either a four-year college/university or trade school.
It is our mission that by establishing the Suzanne and Richard Bretherick Memorial Fund that we honor their legacy by providing educational opportunities via scholarship to the kids that meant so much to them: the children of Magnolia Elementary, a Collierville High School football player, and classically trained dancer (10 years or more of dance instruction). In the event that Magnolia Elementary School closes, we would continue to offer a scholarship to a student in the same geography that Magnolia students reside in currently. Our goal is to offer three scholarships to three deserving students representing each category above. The deserving students must meet the following qualifications which are required for each scholarship: Good moral standing (no criminal history), give consistent service to the community, have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, and submit a written essay about while they are they are the ideal candidate (for dancers, a video submission would be required). For more specific information, please see the individual scholarship application located on the "application for scholarship" tab within this website.
Why these three categories of students?
Mom loved her students at Magnolia. She loved the success of students that she followed over the years after their left her class. There were occasions when mom ransacked our closets, enlisting family and friends to do the same. She would then take that clothing or shoes to her other kids (the children of Magnolia) affected by a devastating fire, loss of circumstances, domestic violence, or other emergencies. She kept a locker in her room with clothing for her children, as needed, that she collected along with school supplies for the children / families. I recall vividly being at Walmart as a young woman as mom stood with her list at the end of a school supply aisle….She would send us in with orders for 24 Red Spirals, 24 boxes of crayons, pencils, etc. No child in need was ever left without anything they needed under her watchful eye.
In the late 1980’s / early 1990’s, Mom and Dad signed up to join the established Collierville Kickoff Club, when Ricky began playing high school football, in Collierville, TN. Mom served on the Board from 1992 until her death. This included when Matthew got to play Collierville High School Football. She drug Dad along with her. Mom spent Thursday / Friday afternoons on her way home from school, running around Memphis, buying enough food, junk food, and candy, to feed every football fan in Collierville. I am pretty sure she had it down to a science. They lived at the field: helping with the 7th & 8th grade, Freshman, JV, and Varsity games.
Finally, to honor Heather's daughters and their love of dance, Nana and Papa Bretherick embraced and learned everything possible about dance. They completely devoted themselves to supporting Brette and Morgan and “the Team" of NVS dancers. The Memorial gifts given to The Suzanne and Richard Bretherick Memorial Fund can live on through educating children and then hopefully bringing those special gifts back to their community. We will attempt to continue to raise funds for the Bretherick Memorial Fund, for as long as possible.
Other Fundraising or Charitable SupportAdditionally, we will participate in fundraising events/drives to help specific charities that our mom loved, such as the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program or Toys for Tots, at Christmas since mom LOVED Christmas. She liked to swoop in and grab the little ones not chosen on the Angel Tree, at the last minute! Another big area of focus for mom was her willingness to spend her own money to build a stash of school supplies to give to students whose parents could not provide these supplies of necessity for any child. Furthermore, this fund may participate in activities supporting community emergencies or disasters, as they occur. All financial transactions will be available for viewing for each year's collections. Stay tuned to further details!
Learn more about our upcoming events, fundraisers, and more!
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