Hank's Announcement

In 2019 at Riley’s funeral, Riley’s cousin Hank gave a eulogy that officially announced the formation of the Riley Howell Foundation and support fund. A lot has happened since that year. We would like to reprint those words here for you…

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Where do heroes like Riley Howell come from?

It can be tempting to think that they fall from the sky, fully formed, like one of Riley’s favorite super-heroes, Thor.

But the reality is that they’re gifted at birth by a generous and loving God and then raised by a family who wants the best for them.

Heroes come from a father who chose a career in nursing in order to provide care and healing for others. They come from a mother who chose a career as a teacher in order to nurture and grow children. They come from siblings who love you unconditionally.

Uncle Thomas, Aunt Natalie and my cousins modeled the self-sacrifice and love for others that led Riley to do what he did.    

Since his tragic death, the outpouring of love and support for our family has been an amazing blessing. So many people have come forward to ask what they could do to help.

Not everyone can hug Iris, Juliet, Teddy and Lauren. Not everyone can bake a delicious cake for the family or bring more dog food for Riley’s however many dogs. But we can all pray for God’s healing and grace.

And in an effort to carry on Riley’s legacy of making a difference in the world, we’re starting the Riley Howell Foundation to support families like the Howells who have been affected by senseless acts of violence, including the family of the other victim of the shooting, Reed Parlier. 

Riley, I love you and I will always be proud of you. You always have been and always will be a hero.