Lindsay and Justin Walker of Midland have blended two of their passions – enrichment through music and youngster security – into a personal relatives foundation.
The JH Walker Foundation is beginning to establish momentum with fundraisers and grants.
The Walkers recognized the basis in the slide of 2019 in honor of their infant son, James Henry “Jimmy” Walker, who died from accidents sustained in a vehicle accident in 2015. The tragedy galvanized the Walkers to advocate for baby protection. The couple donated 10 Graco auto seats to MidMichigan Healthcare Heart-Midland in 2019, and Lindsay is a qualified kid passenger protection technician.
“For us, the foundation was some thing we could do to convert the tragedy into one thing favourable,” Justin said.
A major tenant of the JH Walker Foundation is about safe child vacation. Justin and Lindsay conducted a Apparel to Vehicle Seats travel in between April 15 and Could 15, gathering carefully-made use of children’s clothing and toys to provide at many functions to increase revenue to raise funds for vehicle seats, slumber sacks and other kid protection objects. They have sold the goods at a Sanford Soaring party in late May perhaps and prepare to maintain yet another sale July 9-11.
“The neighborhood has been quite generous with donations. We even now have merchandise coming in soon after the push was above,” Lindsay said.
The basis has elevated ample to order eight car seats as a result far. The Walkers discussed that a vehicle seat is not thought of risk-free to use when it is been in a auto collision also, automobile seats have an expiration date of six to 10 many years considering the fact that components degrade above time and motor vehicle seat protection technologies proceeds to strengthen.
Being in a position to help kid protection usually means much more than Lindsay can set into words. As a auto seat technician, she operates as a volunteer with a trauma avoidance team by way of MidMichigan Wellbeing as nicely as Protected and Seem Youngster Advocacy Center. Expanding families’ expertise about automobile seat basic safety is one of her targets.
“Families occur in and they don’t know that their motor vehicle seats are expired or installed improperly,” Lindsay mentioned.
The JH Walker Foundation also focuses on music, a huge component of Justin and Lindsay’s lives. The Walkers to start with achieved by their substantial school band method in Saskatchewan, Canada and have participated in local community bands for the the vast majority of their relationship. They have been members of the Mid Michigan Brass Band considering that 2016, Lindsay playing trombone whilst Justin covers trombone, euphonium and baritone.
“It gave us a great deal of enthusiasm to spread the phrase and to get far more youthful men and women associated,” Lindsay stated.
Since some brass band instruments are not generally present in a typical band, the Mid Michigan Brass Band operates a program wherever it lends an instrument to a college student for two decades before awarding it to the specific to forever hold. The Walkers have loaned a several of their very own instruments to fellow band customers in the previous and approached the band’s chair, Jim Schutz about the JH Walker Foundation granting an instrument to the band on a annually basis for the method. Schutz believes the scenario is a win for anyone.
“It’s fantastic to be able to give back again to pupils and support them with their musical endeavors as they become older people,” Schutz claimed.
“You really don’t anticipate a large faculty pupil to have some of these instruments that are not generally employed in this nation,” Justin said. “If we can assist provide these devices, we can help market these sorts of bands.”
The Walkers gave their instrument donation for 2020 – an e flat soprano cornet – to the Mid Michigan Brass Band. In change, the band introduced the cornet to Midland Substantial College scholar Elijah Skutt at its Could 16 concert. Skutt has been with the band for six months and will play his new instrument at the band’s subsequent concert on July 18. Lindsay and Justin hope to existing another instrument for 2021 to the band either later on this tumble or close to Christmastime.
“We’re definitely thrilled to award this,” Schutz said.
“Music is what brought Justin and I together as teens. Observing children having fun with them selves by audio is a great thing,” Lindsay explained.
Lindsay and Justin are continuing to glance for chances to give as the financial system opens up a lot more. In respect to their music aim, they hope to develop earlier the Mid Michigan Brass Band to other bands across the state one particular opportunity group they’d like to guidance is the Brass Band of Fight Creek, which has a scholarship system and provides in skilled musicians to educate pupils. The Walkers are open up to feedback from the community about prospective concentrate areas.
“It’s sky’s the limit, then you find what you want to do,” Justin claimed.
For more information and facts about the JH Walker Basis and techniques to donate, e mail [email protected], pay a visit to www.jhwalkerfoundation.org or pay a visit to its Facebook website page.
