The Jack Robert Young Memorial Foundation grew out of a family’s determination to celebrate the brief life of their infant son. In 2002 Donna and Bob Young lost their baby boy Jack. They decided to honor his memory by creating a foundation in his name that would allow them to enhance the lives of other children. The Jack Robert Young Memorial Foundation plans to support various programs throughout the Sound Shore area that encourage children’s creative expression.

Moved by the sight of a child in a wheelchair who couldn’t join her friends on the monkey bars at a local park, Donna did some research and learned that one in ten children has some kind of disability that makes it difficult or impossible for them to play on a traditional playground. Specially-designed barrier-free playgrounds exist, but there is only one such playground in Westchester county, despite a population of 132,235 children under the age of 9 (according to the 2000 Census).

The Youngs were moved to take action.  NEXT>