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8 | March 19, 2020 | the mokena messenger news
mokenamessengerdaily.com
ForeverU continues to gain support after second annual gala
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Sean Hastings, Contributing Editor
ForeverU founder Ryan Hesslau
got a sense of validation on
Saturday, March 14, at ForeverU’s
second annual gala.
A validation that he and his
Board of Directors at ForeverUare
on the right path. ForeverU is
a 501(c)(3) youth development
organization that empowers
youth to overcome adversity by
offering personal development
programs to 7-12 grade students. .
Through the years — starting
when Hesslau, a now 24-yearold
Mokena resident, was a
16-year-old student at Lincoln-
Way East High School — he has
been dreaming big. So big, that it
was sometimes tough for others
to dream with him.
“I’ve been told by people,
‘I don’t think you realize what
you’re doing and see the difference
you’re making,’” Hesslau
said. “I don’t sometimes and I’m
just continuing to show up each
and every day and do my very
best to bring our vision to life.”
ForeverU held its second annual
gala to help raise funds for
the new youth empowerment
center set to open in New Lenox.
The gala was made possible
by its sponsors: New Lenox
Mayor Tim Baldermann and the
Village of New Lenox were the
tribute sponsors, Sterk Family
Law Group was the invitation
sponsor, Ozinga was the centerpiece
sponsor and Bob Feldman,
of Nothing Bundt Cakes, donated
desserts.
The event had more than 50
contributing organizations.
Baldermann has been a big
ForeverU supporter and continues
to see Hesslau’s dream.
“I’m really excited about them
coming to New Lenox and making
it their home,” Baldermann
said. “Ryan is an impressive
young man as well as [ForeverU’s
Board of Directors] and
volunteers. They are inspirations.
“Everyone has their difficulties
in life and young people
sometimes struggle and don’t
always have the coping mechanism
in place and can easily become
despondent and to have
a group of talented people that
young people can relate to and
there to mentor them, I can’t
think of a more worthwhile
group to get behind.”
Part of Hesslau’s speech at the
event touched upon a new way
that the community can get involved
with financially supporting
their work as a youth development
organization.
As an effort to continue their
fundraising efforts beyond the
gala, Hesslau announced ForeverU’s
new “Advocate Program,”
which is their monthly giving
project that directly supports the
youth empowerment center starting
at just $10 a month. Community
members who are interested
in becoming a ForeverU Advocate
and making a direct impact
in the lives of local youth are
encouraged to sign up by texting
“FOREVERU” to 44321.
“We hope this program will
create a unique connection between
donors and the students
we serve,” Hesslau said.
The event itself had a general
raffle, a signature raffle and a silent
auction.
All proceeds from the general
and signature raffle will be
used to provide financial aid
and scholarships to 7-12 grade
students wishing to participate
in ForeverU’s camps. All the
proceeds from the wine pull
— which featured Trails Edge
Brewing Co., Kenwood Liquors
and The Barrel Club as the sponsors
— and the silent auction
will go toward ForeverU’s plans
for the empowerment center.
The youth empowerment center
is one big piece to a puzzle
Hesslau is putting together, but
his plans are as big as they were
when he was 16. The difference
now is that people are listening
and seeing the vision he has had
all along.
Ryan Hesslau, founder of ForeverU, gives his speech at the ForeverU second annual gala held at
Tuscany Falls in Mokena Saturday, March 14. Photos by Tyler Minnesma/ForeverU
ForeverU’s Board of Directors pose for a photo during the organization’s second gala fundraiser.