Never Forgotten Fund
Never Forgotten lapel pins
Never Forgotten Fund scholarships
From the Never Forgotten Fund website:
"Following the Columbine tragedy in April 1999, 850 KOA created The Never Forgotten Fund. The fund ensures that the names of the 13 lost at Columbine are never forgotten by awarding one scholarship annually in each of their names. In the initial year, the scholarships were awarded exclusively to Columbine students. Subsequently the scholarship application process was broadened to include students and faculty from the entire Denver Metro area. A selection committee of community leaders, including Columbine High School and Clear Channel Radio-Denver representatives, review the applications and select the 13 scholarship recipients. A recognition dinner is held each year to honor the recipients as well as those lost at Columbine.
The 12 students and one teacher are selected each year to exemplify volunteerism and leadership within their school and surrounding community. They are each awarded a one-time $5,000 scholarship. Each scholarship is awarded in the name of a life lost at Columbine. To date, over $1.8 million has been raised through corporate donations and the sale of the “Never Forgotten” pin to thousands of 850 KOA listeners and the listeners to Clear Channel’s seven other Denver radio stations. Over $650,000 has been awarded.
The fund is a 501(c)(3) and is now a part of The Denver Foundation who along with 850 KOA and its parent company, Clear Channel Communications, Inc., will assure that those lost at Columbine will never be forgotten."
Never Forgotten lapel pins
To fund the scholarships, KOA created a beautiful "Never Forgotten" lapel pin featuring 13 blue and white Columbine flowers inside of a heart with a navy blue and silver ribbon. The pins were sold to the public for a $5 donation, and came in a plastic bag with a card that read:
"To the Friends & Families of Loved Ones Lost:
Innocence stolen from faces. Bright futures lost.
The actions of 2 dark souls came with a tearful cost.
But despite all the anger we must keep our faith alive
for the ones you all lost, they really did survive.
They dance across our memories and leave footprints on our thoughts
and looking upon you now they can see they've loved a lot.
Mathew Phillips
Excerpt only
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE NEVER FORGOTTEN FUND