The Remember Ryan Foundation

In Memory of Ryan A. Bertini, 1997-2005

The Remember Ryan Foundation Inc.

Supporting the Visual and Performing Arts in Education

A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation and NYS registered public charity helping young students experience art, music, theater, and creative learning throughout Western New York.

Remember Ryan Foundation photo collage Ryan A. Bertini portrait
$225,000+ awarded in grants and direct gifts to area schools
K-8 schools in Western New York counties may apply
501(c)(3) registered public charity

Mission

Expanding access to the arts for young students.

The primary mission of The Remember Ryan Foundation Inc. is to financially support efforts to expand visual and performing arts exploratory and experiential opportunities for young students through The Remember Ryan Grants Fund and other funding initiatives.

The foundation has helped school communities bring music, theater, visual art, performances, creative equipment, and shared student experiences into classrooms across the region.

Schools served

Among the schools and districts receiving Remember Ryan Grants

North Tonawanda City School District Tonawanda City School District Starpoint Central School District Lackawanna City School District St. Christopher School St. Joseph University School St. Amelia School Kadimah School of Buffalo Born Hava St. Paul Lutheran School St. Matthews Lutheran School Orleans-Niagara BOCES Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School DeSales Catholic School

Remember Ryan Grants Fund

Applications accepted at any time.

Remember Ryan Grants support visual and performing arts projects for young students. The program is now open to K-8 schools in all Western New York counties.

Up to $250Single classroom or short-duration small projects
Up to $500Activities involving multiple classrooms or grade levels
Up to $1,000Projects or activities involving the entire school

Previous grants

Examples of grants awarded through the fund

$5,000

Gilmore & Meadow Elementary Schools

North Tonawanda

To purchase musical instruments for use by students.
$2,000

St. Christopher School

Town of Tonawanda

To fund the school musical.
$1,000

Born Hava Specialized Early Childhood Center of WNY

Western New York

To conduct a summer dance program.
$1,000

Kadimah School of Buffalo

Buffalo

To update stage sound and lighting equipment.
$1,000

Spruce School

North Tonawanda

For a project designed to develop fine motor control through painting.
$1,000

History Comes Alive Through Art

Western New York

For a visual arts project.
$725

Dr. Douglas Regan Intermediate School

Starpoint

To purchase African drums for school band ensemble.
$500

St. Amelia School

Town of Tonawanda

For performing arts.
$200

St. Paul Lutheran PreSchool

North Tonawanda

To buy classroom music supplies.

Application outline

What to include in a grant request

1

Title and contact

Include the project title, primary contact, other staff involved, grade levels, number of students, and duration.

2

Project description

Briefly describe how the project relates to the visual or performing arts.

3

Project impact

Explain how the project may enhance appreciation of the arts for the students involved.

4

Itemized budget

Include vendors, avoid items covered by state aid or regular school budgets, and note whether partial funding is acceptable.

5

Showcase plan

Describe how results will be shared with the school and community through publicity, performance, or another format.

6

Final product

Upon completion, provide a tangible example such as artwork, video, scrapbook, or other appropriate item.

Direct Gifts and Corporate Sponsorships

Dedicated support for school arts programs.

What began as a regular Remember Ryan Grant evolved into the foundation's first Direct Gifts Grant, supporting musical instruments for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.

Direct Gifts have also supported school visual arts departments with items such as a 35mm camera, artwork display racks, and a laser photo printer. School-based corporate sponsorships are reserved for annual visual or performing arts activities involving large numbers of students across multiple grade levels.

Traditional Direct Gifts provide up to $100 toward visual or performing arts reference materials for a school's Library Media Center.

Ryan's Garden

Ryan A. Bertini Memorial Meditation Garden

The Ryan A. Bertini Memorial Meditation Garden is located within the Adam Gondek Memorial Botanical Gardens on the historic Erie Canal in North Tonawanda, NY.

Scrapbook

Moments from the foundation's work.

Students at Meadow School in North Tonawanda enjoying ukuleles provided through a Remember Ryan Grant.

The historic Riviera Theater was the venue for the annual Remember Ryan Recital in 2015 and 2016.

A class set of ukuleles purchased through a Remember Ryan Grant for Starpoint Central Schools.

The Remember Ryan Foundation and the Larry Lakeman Memorial Fund partnered for three successful Summerfest fundraisers.

Norm Alexander, a 1999 NTHS Visual and Performing Arts Wall of Fame inductee, was honored as both a graduate and staff member.

The foundation served as corporate sponsor of the Visual and Performing Arts Wall of Fame for several years.

Ryan's Runners

Community support in motion.

Ryan's Runners began as a community team honoring Ryan's memory and supporting the foundation's work. The original team formed in 2012 and helped bring friends, family, and supporters together around Ryan's legacy.

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