2024 Year in Review
BWe’d like to highlight the great things we’ve done in 2024 in memory of our son Ryan. This is our first full year as a Foundation, and we are quite proud of our achievements. We’ve been able to support many great initiatives and other organizations who are doing great work in our community.
This year, we donated a total of $52,505 across the following initiatives:
Youth & Local Athletics
Sykesville Baseball: We installed a Daktronics Baseball Score Board at Freedom Park, Field 1 and donated to the Sykesville Baseball program. This project started much earlier than March, going back to June of 2023. The final product looks great and is supporting the baseball program today.
(Project cost: $19,555 | installed March 2024)
Liberty High School Baseball, Golf Tournament Fundraiser: The Cro Foundation was a Bronze Sponsor at the Liberty High School Fundraiser. As a baseball family, it was great to support our local high school team. ($200 | April 2024)
Jonathan B. Loden Foundation, Golf Tournament Fundraiser: We were a Hole Sponsor at the 2024 Jonathan B. Loden Foundation, Golf Tournament Fundraiser. Our dear friends lost their son/brother, Jonathan, in 2006 after a battle with head and neck cancer at just 33 years old. It’s an honor to support them every year with their golf tournament fundraiser, now in the 17/18th year. Proceeds go to the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. They have raised over $210K over the years.
($1,250 | September 2024).
Education
Liberty High School, Class of 2024, Scholarships: We decided to award something to every applicant given this was Ryan’s class and the applicant pool was tremendous. Scholarships ranged from $500 to $5,000. Total amount awarded ($20,500 | May 2024)
Brain Injury Awareness
Our Foundation has aligned in support of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland (BIAMD). Given that we lost Ryan to a Traumatic Brain Injury it’s a very meaningful alignment. The BIAMD brings health, hope, and healing to thousands of Marylanders living with brain injury, their families, and the professionals who serve them.
Crab Feast Fundraiser: We raised $7,000 in donations resulting from our Crab Feast Fundraiser. (September and donation made in November 2024).
Scarecrow 5K: We served as the official Food Sponsor for this race at UMBC. We were also a sponsor of their 5k race at Piney Run Park. ($1,500 | September 2024)
Healing, Remembrance & Service
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of the Patapsco Valley: When we first lost Ryan, we did not know how to process everything. We found the TCF and went to some of their monthly meetings. The group consists of bereaved parents helping each other, sharing their loss, sharing how they cope with grief, but most importantly saying their loved one’s name. There is a level of comfort knowing that we were not in this alone, and unfortunately, there are others walking a similar path. ($2,500 | December)