What has happened in the 3 years since then is something only God could do!

A week or two after we said our goodbyes here on earth to Ben, some of our family and friends approached us about holding a 5K in memory of Ben. The idea didn't really appeal to us until my brother Duane Wendling, suggested that we use the money we raise each year to give an award to a student with special needs at Ben's alma mater, Emmaus High School. After attending his oldest son's graduation in 2008 Duane realized that awards at graduation are not typically given to students with special needs. That was all we needed to hear. Duane was correct in what he noticed, special needs students do not typically receive awards at high school graduations.

From that point on we took aim for our first 5k. Things quickly grew however from a 5K and Fun Walk to adding family activities, a Friday Night Kick Off, Special Olympic activities, a motorcycle ride and more! In September 2009 we became the Ben Yorgey Foundation and we began making plans for our first fundraiser, The Ben Event 2010!

In June 2010 before we even held our first Ben Event, we were able to present the first $500 Ben Yorgey Memorial Award to a student graduating from Emmaus High School. We were pleased to give that first award to Michael DiMicco.

Thanks God and many dedicated, hard working people The Ben Event 2010 was a tremendous success!

With the money raised in 2010 we were able to give 13 Ben Yorgey Memorial Awards in 2011 totaling $11,000 to special needs students graduating from Lehigh and Carbon County schools. David Stoeckel was our first $5000 award recipient.

The Ben Event 2011 was another success.

This month we will be giving 13 more Ben Yorgey Memorial Awards totaling $11,000 to students with special needs graduating from area high schools with the money raised from 2011.

Along with giving these monetary and recognition awards, we also have long range plans to begin a facility for young people after graduation.

In just 3 years since Ben left us, we will have given a total of $22,500 to students with intellectual disabilities graduating from local high schools.

As a family, we grieve deeply, our loss is great....we miss Ben!!!!

At the same time we are so grateful for the opportunity that God has given us to take our personal loss and bring joy and blessing to the lives of others who like Ben, don't often get the recognition they deserve! We love giving them a few moments in the spotlight. The money we are able to give them helps to defray some of the high costs of providing support for these young people when they are out of school.

On May 8, 2009, the day we took Ben off of life support, our oldest son Travis, started the group on FB called Celebrating the Life of Ben Yorgey. If you didn't know Ben and want to get a glimpse of what he was like, or if you knew him and want reminders of Ben, take a few minutes and go back to the May 2009 posts on that page. I close this blog with Travis' first entry on that page which no longer appears on that page since the new FB changes......

"On May 7th, at 4:16 p.m., Ben ran ahead of us again...this time crossing a line that we (his family) aren't meant to cross yet. He is now dancing with Father God in fields of grace, and though we miss him terribly, we know he has received the healing that was promised! Ben's wish would be for you to live every moment of every day with the same joy and enthusiasm he did.  

And don't ever meet a "stranger". There is no such thing. Love everyone."

Thank you for your prayers, love and support the last 3 years!

Ardy Yorgey and the Yorgey family