Be Like Thatcher.
Thatcher was one-of-a-kind, and we could go on without end describing all of his incredible characteristics. However, there are a few traits that have truly inspired us as we contemplated how to best commemorate his life, and we will use them to help guide us as we build the Foundation.
As such, we pledge to our beloved Thatcher that, in his honor, we strive to be embody the qualities that we most admired about him—and we invite all of you to do the same as you find your own ways to remember this precious boy.
Tenacious.
Thatcher took on challenges with flourish – everything from scaling the tallest playground slides, completing Lego sets meant for children well beyond his age and pushing himself to learn complicated math equations – all because he loved the challenge. And while sometimes he was a bit apprehensive at first, he always overcame his initial bout of nervousness and confronted the issue head-on. The Foundation will do the same. We have set ambitious goals for what we hope to accomplish, and we anticipate that we will hit some bumps along the way. However, we draw strength from the knowledge that Thatcher will be cheering us on as we navigate our way to building a Foundation worthy of his name.
Energetic.
Thatcher woke up with a smile on his face every morning, excited to face whatever the day brought him. Thatcher made everything an adventure – from mundane tasks like picking up the mail (an opportunity to see who would get downstairs quicker—Mommy on the elevator or Thatcher on the stairs) to the many trips he made to see his Papu in Europe or his Grandparents in Minnesota. A rainy day meant an opportunity to splash in puddles before drying off and having a family snuggle on the couch. Rarely were the blankets in our home folded into a neat pile because Thatcher tended to abscond with them to build forts or use them in his Pokemon-like stuffie battles. If there was an opportunity to run rather than walk, he would take it. Thatcher strived to make the most of every situation, and rarely did he did sit still if he had the opportunity to participate in a game, turn something into a competition, or make something really fun.
As a Foundation, we have selected board members—mostly former Division 1 athletes—who can (attempt to) match Thatcher’s level of energy, vivacity and creativity in carrying out projects in his honor. Though we may be a bit older and slower than he was, we know that the thought of his trademark smile will motivate us to push through any challenges we encounter as we build the Foundation.
Compassionate.
The first word that Thatcher learned to write was “love,” and he included it in just about everything he ever created for us. His devotion and care for others was almost programmed within him from birth. When he was a baby, one of his day care teachers noted that he cried whenever another baby cried, and seemingly not because he had been wronged in some way, but because he felt sad that another child was upset. As Thatcher grew older and started to verbalize these feelings, he often communicated to us how much he wanted to comfort someone who was sad and how he tried to understand the best way to help them feel better. Whenever we had a hard day or one of us felt sad, Thatcher was immediately by our side, offering a hug or comfort by way of spending some time with one of his treasured stuffies. He also wanted to talk about why we felt sad and tried as hard as a child could to understand what he could do to help alleviate those feelings.
As a Foundation, we strive to channel Thatcher’s deep understanding of compassion as we first fundraise for the endowed scholarship, and later, seek out new projects where we can contribute to bettering the lives of children in the community. We plan to work with those groups and families already in these communities to understand what they need and how we can help them, instead of making assumptions about how we can contribute. Most of all, we hope to engage with he community on a long-term basis to ensure that our impact—and Thatcher’s legacy—continues to endure well beyond any initial project.
Remarkable.
If you had the opportunity to know Thatcher, or even if you’ve just read about him through this website, you know that he was one special kid. We’ve included a number of anecdotes to help you get to know him better, but the fact of the matter is that he is one of the most beautiful souls to ever grace this Earth. He was truly beloved by his family, his friends, his teachers and even “friends” he’d meet on the street (he once stopped a total stranger on the street to say, “Hi! I am Thatcher, and I am the best at math in all of the first grade.”) Thatcher was an incredible child, and we are confident that he would have grown into a truly remarkable adult. With every project that is carried out by the Foundation, we will seek to honor Thatcher and strive to do our best in the results that we deliver. After all, Thatcher wouldn’t have it any other way.