Tragedy Becomes Blessing for Others ~ Bug Bash is Coming!!
Fort Pierce - May 13, 2008
It has been 20 months since MaryKathryn "Katy" Church drowned in a western St. Lucie County retention pond, but much as happened in that time, and the Church Family and The Katy Foundation continues to make strides.
Making good on their intentions, Katy's family, Troy and Robyn Church, their two other daughters, Madelyn and Olyvia are organizing the
2nd Annual Bug Bash and Summer Splashtacular!! being held on June 07, 2008 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds.
On September 22, 2006, little Katy Church died after being airlifted by St. Lucie Co. Sheriff's Office Air Rescue helicopter to Nicholas Children's Hospital at St. Mary's Medical Center, following a drowning incident in a retention pond near the family's home in western St. Lucie County.
The Church family has created The MaryKathryn Church Memorial Foundation, or Katy Foundation for short, in their daughter's name, to be an advocate for childhood injury awareness and prevention. A not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), status is hopefully in the near future, as they continue to file the necessary paperwork to move forward.
"It's all coming together," says Troy Church. This year, The Katy Foundation is continuing its mission of Childhood Injury Prevention and Awareness as they hold their
Bug Bash. "Even the girls [daughters] have been coming up with some of the games and events," Troy said. They are real excited.
"After last year's extraordinary response for our first
Bug Bash, we have decided to hold it away from home. Our house was busting at the seams last year!" Troy said.
And...There will be a twist this year. The Katy Foundation has hosted an annual toy drive to supply The Children's Hospital at St. Mary's Medical Center, and other local pediatrics programs, with toys, activities, and educational items to assist the children and their families while receiving medical services. "We also recently adopted the newly expanded pediatrics department at Lawnwood Medical," Troy said. The admission into the
Bug-Bash is to simply bring a new, unwrapped toy or item(s), which would be appropriate in a medical setting, to the front door of the Bash. You can see a list of ideas on the Katy Foundation website (www.katyfund.org).
Join The Church Family, Cathy Back, CPA; Scream for Your Life; and Bayside Solutions, Inc. for food, music, bounce houses, raffles, safety talks and displays, classic car show, and many other games and activities. Many area businesses have committed to donating items for raffle baskets and door prizes. Some of those businesses are: Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday's, Sunrise Theatre and Fort Pierce Downtown, Brewer's Cafe', and many others. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's School Resource Section will be having a Bike Rodeo and The Sheriff's Explorers will be fingerprinting children. The St. Lucie County Fire District and Health Department are assisting as well.
Come out and join us while The Katy Foundation continues to grow. We are looking for more sponsors to help support the Bash - Give us a call at 772.465.1515 if you would like to volunteer, donate, or be included in the fun. And as always, remember: "Safety is the light; let it shine." For more information, check out our website:
www.katyfund.org or call us at 772-465-1515. Hope to see you there!!