Ryan J. Dudley's Legacy Fund

Ryan Dudley passed away in 2010 from an unintentional drug overdose shortly after his 24th birthday. He struggled for years with his addiction, beginning with "harmless" drug experimentation with friends in his early teens. Factors contributing to his addiction likely included poor sense of self-worth and general life direction, as well as watching and attempting to cope with his father, over a two-year period, suffering and ultimately passing to cancer in 2003.

In an incredible understatement, growing up and life in general can be difficult. Ryan's Legacy Fund will provide every possible resource to local young people, through grants to qualified nonprofit organizations offering a variety of support programs and mentorship opportunities, so these youths and young adults can not only survive but thrive along their unique life journeys. The fund will help young people to build stronger senses of self-identify and self-esteem, to expand horizons of possibility and pursue areas of passion, to grow into more confident decision-makers capable of navigating life's challenges in healthy and productive ways, and to become more empathetic human beings. Also, the fund will strive to be flexible enough so that from time to time it may help address other pressing ad hoc needs across the North Shore and Greater Boston -- the places and community Ryan loved.

Ryan had the kindest heart. His sense of humor and personality overall were valued by his family and friends, his teachers and youth sports coaches, and later on, by his employers and sobriety program coordinators. Growing up in Chelsea, Ryan enjoyed rap, hip hop and other styles of music, stand-up and comedic movies, ESPN and Boston sports (Celtics especially), and playing basketball (he often schooled his older brother on the court).

Even in the days of his worst physical and emotional pain, Ryan showed so many moments of amazing promise, and he never passed up opportunities to help his brother, mother, extended family and friends, and many others in the community including senior citizens and nonprofits. Ryan's spirit remains alive and close to all those who had the great fortune to know him well and even those who did not have that pleasure, namely his young niece and cousins (future fund advisors). This fund is only a part of Ryan's well-deserved legacy.

All donations are tax deductible. If you have any questions regarding your online donation, please contact us directly at (978) 777-8876 or email donations@eccf.org. Thank you!


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