Within the next weeks the initial board meeting will take place for the Establishment of the Tyler Graebner Foundation. The Board of Directors will consist of a “Working Board” and an “Advisory Board.” Individuals on the Active Board of Directors, which will oversee the operation of the Foundation and planning and organization of activities, events, and disbursements will include, James and Christina Graebner, (One voting right) Mike and Mary Jane Furches (One voting right), Eric Akin, Aaron Sweazy, Kobi Williams, and Craig Mitchell. It is likely that additional Board members will be included in this working Board.
The Advisory Board will be seeking Top Level National Wrestlers and individuals involved in the Cancer Research and Cancer Treatment areas. Presently several top level wrestlers have committed to this. Those individuals will be announced after the initial Board meeting. The Advisory Board will help with giving credibility to the organization as well as help promote the mission and needs of the organization on a International level.
Initial plans for the Tyler Graebner Foundation is multi-fold and multi-purposed. While eventual practices of the organization are yet to be developed, there are several areas that are certain at this time.
1. The Tyler Graebner Foundation will seek to provide financial and psychological support to families who are going through traumatic and life threatening experiences, with a special focus on cancer, but not limited to cancer. There will also be a special focus on the wrestling family but not entirely limited to the wrestling family. This assistance will consist of help in providing support, both mental, and financial. The financial assistance will take place through an application process that has yet to be determined.
2. The Tyler Graebner Foundation will seek to provide assistance to youth and families who have lack of funds for wrestling. There will also be an application process for this that has yet to be determined. The assistance in this area will provide headgear, shoes, and other equipment needed for youth involved in wrestling. It will also assist in covering fees, including a USA Card and tournament fees for the wrestler. This will as well involve an application process that has yet to be determined. We encourage each individual club and state to provide assistance as they can to their wrestlers and this is intended to be a supplement to those particular organizations. Where those services do not exist within those organizations then direct assistance from the Tyler Graebner Foundation may be sought out.
There are various things that need to be done yet before we attack this process head on. We are currently seeking assistance in the development of a 501 C-3 Classification. For that, we need the assistance of an attorney or attorneys. This classification will enable individuals to receive a tax credit for contributions to the organization as well as lend credibility to the organization. This association will also make it easier to obtain grants that may be available to organizations such as this.
Education to the wrestling community about the organization is also appreciated. If youth, and clubs don’t know about the organization it will not be able to help. Please educate clubs and others about the Tyler Graebner Foundation. We want to keep Tyler’s memory and love for wrestling alive; we also want to assist those that are going through difficult times. Tyler was a reminder of the love we are to have for each other and the legitimate concept of family that is developed within the wrestling community. We want that to continue.
Individuals or organizations can also contribute to the organization to assist in providing funds. We will develop various levels of giving and membership with certain benefits to the organization for those giving at those particular levels. With the inclusion of National and International Level Wrestlers, it may involve items from those individuals or other rewards. Beyond those benefits is the knowledge that you are helping an organization that is about helping others.
Individuals, organizations, and clubs can also donate old wrestling items that are in good shape. Those may include shoes, singlets, headgear, and various other items. We would even ask clubs to consider donating wrestling related items that have been left at tournaments after you have sought out to return to individuals your lost and found items. These items will allow us to provide to youth items that will allow them to wrestle safely and at the same time feel like a wrestler. It will also save the Tyler Graebner Foundation a large amount of money in that all that would be required to give these items is the postage to mail them.
For more information or to donate to the Tyler Graebner Foundation you may contact; Mike Furches, 2404 Crawford, Wichita KS 67217. Phone 316-841-5814, or 316-945-8485.
