01940 Spring 2023

30 | 01940
The
Birthday
Project
By Alexandra Rodriguez
Magazine Staff
What derived in 2019, during the
holiday season when Lucas Cook and
his sisters made stockings for the Ruth
Kelley Ummis House (RKUH), a program
that provides housing and intensive
case management to women and children
had Cook dwelling on how the women
and their children are spending their
Birthdays.
“Over the summer it kind of dawned
on me, I wonder what they are doing for
their birthdays,” said Cook.
Cook, a 17-year-old senior from Lynnfield
High School and a hockey player for
the Captain team wears the number 17 in
each one of his sports jerseys in honor of
his uncle Michael who wore the number
17 while he played Hockey and Football
at the high school and college level.
Cook’s uncle, passed away from an
accidental overdose just five years ago, in
his honor, the Think of Michael Foundation
was born, with the purpose to
provide scholarships in sober homes, raise
awareness, eradicate stigmas, and support
individuals affected by substance abuse.
“I’ve heard so many great things about
him during sports, so I thought I could
play the same way he did and dedicate
every game to him,” said Cook.
Humble and bashful, with no interest
in accolades, Cook’s monthly trip to
RKUH to deliver birthday bags with everything
for children and women to celebrate
their birthdays, from cake mixes,
party favors, paper goods, steamers, and
books. Cook understands what brought
him to RKUH to deliver the birthday
bags was number 17.
“As I stood in the quiet Roxbury
neighborhood, I realized that number
17 brought me there. When playing
sports and going about my life, this grit,
BIRTHDAY, continued on page 32
Lucas Cook, a Lynnfield High School
hockey player, created the "Birthday
Project."
STAFF PHOTOS: LIBBY O'NEILL