The Kathryn Leigh Thurgaland Foundation is built to lift our spirits up. The founding board members consist Kathryn’s immediate family; her mother Jodell, her father Todd, her two brothers Ryan and Avery and her sister Elizabeth. Soon after Kathryn’s death, we realized through the fog of grief that we were not alone. Now a part of this club of aching souls left behind by loved ones gone too soon; the way forward is through and the way through it, is together. Thinking back to the swooping and supportive embrace from our family and friends during that first week of grief, we don’t know what we would’ve done without them. One of Kathy’s bandmates told us that she was always one of the first to help people. As a focus of our mission we intend to provide that same immediate support giving families all that they need to wade through the deep waters of shock, unknown, and grief that follows the loss of a child. We will need contributions such as food, transportation, and financial support for funeral arrangements, and even such necessaries as tissues and toiletries. The second focus of our mission is to continue Kathryn’s legacy and spread her light through scholarships to graduating seniors as they venture into the world as adults off to college. Kathryn is described as being a steadfast leader, taking every opportunity to dance and have fun without hesitation. We hope this scholarship inspires the awardees and others to see life the way she did.