Richard, this is actually a good question. The answer to your question is yes and no. The monies that have been raised is to help primarily with USA Wrestling Membership Cards, club fees, and some tournament entry fees. Obviously, we want the clubs to help as much with this as possible. The money is also used to help families with unexpected expenses. For example while we may be able to get a club to help pay with a pair of shoes, when there is a family who can’t pay the electricity because they have expended all resources and a parent is out of work spending time with the child, those organizations won’t be as likely to help. I know this from spending over 15 years working with individuals in these situations. Thankfully, Kansas has a law that prevents certain utilities from being turned off during the Winter but not all states have those laws, and even with those laws it does not take into account the additional expenses. Another use of the money will be to assist loved ones who may have to come in for a medical emergency, such as a death or near death situation. Airlines while providing reduced rates for this, don’t provide free rates, there is still expenses involved.

Essentially what we are trying to do is spread the dollar as much as possible. Where we can get donated items that is great, when we can’t we can purchase them. An example here, I just picked up 15 pair of headgear that was donated from Sunflower. Darin has also agreed to sell me shoes at cost for the Foundation. We can purchase these shoes at a reduced rate but if a pair is donated, we don’t have to spend any on the reduced rate.

I know you didn’t do this Richard but some clarification probably needs to be given. The Foundation don’t have a large bank roll. All of the initial monies that came in came in to help with medical expenses and other expenses related to Tyler’s illness. We have since his death started the foundation and all of that money is designated to help the foundation. There is presently less than $2,000 in that account, not a large amount as anyone can see, especially if providing a hundred here and a hundred or so there for whatever need. It will only take one large emergency, of helping with major expenses to wipe that amount out. Our hope is that we never have to spend money for a catastrophic incident because none happen. If last year taught us anything though, it is that inevitably something will happen that will require helping someone in our wrestling family this year.

I hope this gives clear explanation, if there are other questions I will be glad to answer them. By the way, the drive down for the headgear, toll, and all other expenses was out of my pocket. The only reason I make mention of that is to make clear, that those helping are doing so out of their own support for the cause of the foundation.