Press release from Riley Howell Foundation Fund:
On Thursday, June 6, the Riley Howell Foundation Fund, an organization created in memory of Riley Howell with the mission to support families affected by gun violence, announced the initial two recipients of its monetary support. The foundation has approved donations to both the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado to fund traumatic grief counseling services for students and faculty affected by the recent shootings on those campuses.
Grief counseling is immeasurably beneficial in the wake of such tragic events and is often a crucial step in the healing process, even weeks after the initial trauma.
In honor of the victims of the 2019 shooting at UNCC, the same shooting that took Riley’s life as he tackled the gunman to protect others, and in memory of Kendrick Castillo who died in STEM School Highlands Ranch performing the same heroic actions just a week later, the foundation chose to support these two schools with their initial financial support action.
“The UNC Charlotte community is grateful and honored by the selfless gift made to the University by the Riley Howell Foundation Fund,” said Beth Crigler, associate vice chancellor for university development. “This display of generosity will make a meaningful difference as we all continue to heal. No member of Niner Nation was unaffected by the tragic events of April 30th. This gift will enable more resources to be available to help support our students, faculty and staff as we move forward. Both Riley Howell and Reed Parlier were valued members of the UNC Charlotte family. We will not forget Riley. We will not forget Reed.”
“Our prayers are with everyone at STEM School Highlands Ranch,” said Scott Pritchard, treasurer at the Riley Howell Foundation Fund. “Kendrick Castillo’s heroic actions saved lives. In his memory, we hope our support of traumatic grief counseling can provide some degree of peace and grace.”
“Riley’s final act was the manifestation of his entire life: selfless and loving without a moment’s hesitation,” said Natalie Henry-Howell, the foundation fund’s president and Riley’s mother. “Having received so much love and support from our local community and from people around the world, we started this foundation to try and provide that same kind of support for others. The communities around UNCC and Highlands Ranch are still hurting, and we hope grief counseling can help their healing.”
Further financial support for causes that help victims of gun violence will be announced in the coming months.
If you would like to assist the foundation in supporting victims of gun violence, tax-deductible donations can be made online at the foundation’s website (www.rileyhowellfoundation.org) or through the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s website at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1443146. Interested donors can also mail a check to: CFWNC, 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 300, Asheville, NC 28803. Please include ‘Riley Howell Foundation Fund’ in the memo line.
To learn more about the foundation and Riley’s life, please visit the website, or email info@rileyhowellfoundation.org.
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