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Michael Boedo died of an accidental overdose in June of 2017 at the age of 36. The Michael Boedo Community Foundation was established in his honor.
Boedo died of an accidental overdose at the age of 36. He was a longtime healthcare worker at the Lakeshore Hospital as a phlebotomist prior to his death.
To honor his legacy, Michael’s brother, Brian Boedo, established the Michael Boedo Scholarship. Brian Boedo wanted to support a Silver Creek student who was looking to follow a similar career path as his brother did after he graduated from Silver Creek High School in 1999. He also hoped by doing so, it would raise awareness for addiction and overdose risks.
Over the past seven years, the Michael Boedo Scholarship grew more and more each year. In short order, Brian Boedo established the Michael Boedo Community Foundation. He now serves as the President of the nonprofit organization.
The Michael Boedo Community Foundation now offers scholarships to students at Silver Creek, Forestville, and Gowanda school districts, along with an emergency fund for nursing students at Jamestown Community College. Last year, the Foundation partnered with Together We Bloom to fund a scholarship for a counselor to address postpartum depression. The Foundation also recently donated plaques to honor the Silver Creek and Sunset Bay Fire Departments.
The Michael Boedo Community Foundation donated plaques to honor the Silver Creek and Sunset Bay Fire Departments earlier this year. Pictured from left to right: Jeff Griewisch, Brandyn Griewisch and Brian Boedo.
“We want to support the community on every level,” Brian Boedo said.
Rather than focusing on only rewarding those who enter the medical field, the scholarships each year are now offered to candidates that “had a strong sense of community.” Brian Boedo said, “Those are the people who we want them to take these seeds from Silver Creek and bring them to their own communities to grow strong communities there.”
The Foundation also donated to support Hanover Little League and Flag Football programs, along with the Silver Creek Youth Recreation program. The Foundation hopes to launch a program this fall to foster painting. A yard cleanup event was also held earlier this year to assist senior citizens within the community. Brian Boedo estimates the Foundation has allocated more than $5,000 to supporting the community within the past year.
“(We want to) build back a little bit of that community feel, where you can really lean back on your neighbor,” Brian Boedo said. “Communities that are close-knit are strong and resilient places to be.”
Two upcoming events will help the Michael Boedo Community Foundation spread awareness and break the stigma associated with addiction, overdose, and mental health.
On Thursday, Aunt Millie’s restaurant, located on Routes 5 and 20 in Irving, will be donating a portion of proceeds throughout the day to benefit the Michael Boedo Community Foundation.
To close out the month on Aug. 31, the Michael Boedo Community Foundation will honor International Overdose Awareness Day with a community-wide celebration, the third annual Community Barbecue and Cornhole Tournament. The event will take place from noon until 8 p.m. at 12401 Allegany Road in Silver Creek. The event features basket raffles, 50-50 raffles, live music, a petting zoo, and bounce houses. The event is free of charge, but donations are appreciated.
“Everything is there to be a community, family friendly event,” Brian Boedo said.
Aug. 31 will also feature a Dice Run hosted by the Silver Creek Amvets. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with the run departing from the Amvets Post 6472 at 9 a.m., and arriving at the Community Barbecue at approximately 1 p.m.
The day is billed as a day of remembrance and a day to come together with family and friends. The theme of the event is “Together We Can”, encouraging the ability to break the stigma associated with addiction and mental health struggles.
“At the heart of it, we want to raise awareness and break down the stigma of people talking about overdose, addiction, and mental health,” Brian Boedo said.
When his brother passed away, Brian Boedo said at his eulogy, “We were just a single thread when we moved here, but we became part of the fabric of the town.” Brian Boedo hopes to continue to make an impact on the community he calls home, not just for himself, but so his brother can still have an impact too, even after his passing.
“We can help and we want to make a difference,” Brian Boedo said.