Thank you for your support at the recent Smack Shack event! You can give HERE to support the Bennett Kotok Batting Cages.
An endowment fund has also been established in Bennett's memory, providing ongoing support for future Saint Thomas Academy Cadets, with a premiere launch taking place at the Community Auction on May 4.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Despite the sadness of the passing of Bennett Kotok '23, it was heartwarming to see our boys and families come together to support one another during the celebration of life for Bennett.
Many have asked how they can help the Kotoks going forward. Below are a couple actions which will continue for the next year. Presumably, there will be other one-off interactions and they are all encouraged! Don't feel the need to include everyone if there is something you or a group or your son and their friends want to do...just do it! These are some tough weeks right now as things are supposed to settle into a new normal and it's anything but normal.
Larry, Susan, Jack, and Simon will welcome the smallest gesture. They don't want Bennett to be forgotten and they don't want to lose touch with the STA community. That can't happen if what Bennett taught us lives on...do Good, pick up the phone, reach out, enjoy a sunrise/sunset, spread Joy, and Love One Another.
STA Scholarship -- The Kotok family is working with STA to figure out the best way to steward the generosity of so many in their gifts to STA in Bennett's memory. This endowed scholarship will remain an option to which people and classmates can contribute to on an ongoing basis. The endowed scholarship will premiere during the Community Auction on May 4.
Memory Collection -- 1-800-437-3009, invitation number 90979
Call this phone number and leave a recorded message with a memory or story for the Kotoks. Although we weren't able to have the Memory Microphone at the prayer service, this is an even better opportunity to preserve the memories for the Kotoks. The phone number will be active for one year and close just after the 1-year anniversary of Bennett's passing. Call in often! Call in and share a memory or something that makes you think of Bennett on any given day (e.g., something that happened in a baseball game or that Bennett would joke about, beautiful sunset).
Weekly Touches -- https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/60B0A4CADAF29A2FA7-47848705-weekly
Weekly Touches is our way of making sure the Kotoks feel the love of others on a weekly basis, especially this next year. Each week, we would like someone (or a group or your son) to do something for them or in Bennett's memory. Simple gesture examples are included in the Sign-up Genius link. You can do one thing during the week, do one thing each day of the week, or do something at the beginning and the end of the week. Please don't limit your connections with the family to only the week for which you have signed up. Let that week be your motivation to connect every week or every so often. It will take a long time for the grief to become an afterthought to a smile, but every little gesture gets them closer to that day.
Please share this information and invite anyone, not just STA families, to participate. Moms, dads, sons, friends, and anyone who is so moved are welcome to help.
Thank you for YOUR kindness and efforts to keep Bennett alive in our hearts and actions. 💙
