The Forever 56 Foundation Gives Back Honoring Son’s Memory

By: 
Marie Perry, Communications Director for the School District of Belleville

Eric O’Connor’s family at last year’s Forever 56 banquet. From left: Tony O’Connor, Kristin O’Connor, Sherry O’Connor and Steve O’Connor. Photo courtesy of the O’Connor Family

 

“I am honored to be a part of the Forever 56 Foundation.  It is something that is near and dear to my heart, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the memory of Eric.  He loved anything and everything outdoors and knew the importance of friends and family and this banquet encompasses all of that and more,” says Forever 56 Foundation Director and friend, Christine Meier.

The 4th Annual Forever 56 Banquet is coming up on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Edelweiss Chalet Country Club and the O’Connor family hopes to again see a large turn-out to do some special work together in memory of their son, Eric.  Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., with dinner catered by JL Richards at 6:00 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased in advance for this event on the non-profit’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/Forever56Foundation.  Questions can be directed to Steve O’Connor at (608) 669-5842.

There will be a live auction, raffles and door prizes as part of the evening’s events.  Christine Meier is excited about this annual event and notes that the foundation hit donations of over $100,000 this past summer and it has had a huge impact on making a difference in the lives of many locally!

The Forever 56 Foundation was started in remembrance of Eric O’Connor, son of Steve and Sherry O’Connor.  Eric James O’Connor died in July of 2017 at the age of 17, as a result of a car/ATV accident.  Eric was an avid hunter and fisherman who always enjoyed the great outdoors.  He was a 3-sport athlete, participating in Football, Basketball, and Track.  He was involved in FFA and 4-H as well as Cub Scouts.  He also enjoyed singing in the Belleville High School Choir.  The foundation’s name holds a personal touch as it incorporates Eric’s football number, “56”, in its title.

The Forever 56 Foundation provides scholarships as well as donations to youth organizations and individuals that Eric was interested in or involved in.  Since 2018, this committed foundation has donated over $100,000 toward scholarships, school needs, community youth programs and events, and individual support.  This year, the Belleville Elementary School is looking forward to a very special gift from this wonderful organization.  Forever 56 is excited to be presenting the school with an “Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine” that will have a custom Belleville/Forever 56 wrap on its exterior in memory of Eric O’Connor.  This special vending machine’s purpose is two-fold – to encourage the love of reading and as a reward for students’ positive actions.  Students will be awarded tokens for use at the machine when they display the “Wildcat Way” in their everyday acts of kindness at school, reinforcing great behavior!  A $1,500 donation from School Board Member Mike Treder was used to purchase the initial lot of books needed to fill the machine, along with rewards gained from book fair sales through the work of the Belleville Elementary Librarian, Tony Kramer.

District Administrator Nate Perry says, “For reasons I cannot explain, kids are fascinated by the open glass of the new vending machines.  They like to watch the mechanics of it retrieving what was ordered.  Just imagine how excited students at the elementary school will be watching a book that they chose being delivered by that mechanical arm into their hands!”

In honor of a loving son’s memory, the work of this special foundation is infinite as the O’Connor family continues to find unique ways to keep Eric’s loving heart beating in a community he loved and cherished so dearly.  It is a great energy to continue to give back and the Belleville learning community feels his impact.  On April 1st, the work of this incredible non-profit organization will again gather in memory of a very energetic young man and continue to give back showing that Eric’s spirit is alive and well and ready for action!