POTSDAM — The Riley Basford Legacy Fund has been established at the Northern New York Community Foundation to honor the life of the 15-year-old Potsdam Central School student.

The charitable mission and purpose of the fund is to support youth in their pursuit of safe and meaningful experiences throughout their lives and in the community.

Riley Basford was a positive force for good in his Potsdam community, said a press release from the Foundation.

His inspiring spirit made friends and family feel deeply connected and appreciated. He worked hard, loved the outdoors, and made those around him always smile. After unexpectedly passing away last year, it remained important to Riley’s family and friends to honor him in an enduring way, the Foundation said.

“Our hope for Riley’s legacy fund and its outreach is to help us heal by supporting the community that supported us in our darkest days and continues to want to honor and remember Riley with us,” said Mary Rodee, Riley’s mother, and Darren Basford, Riley’s father.

The Riley Basford Legacy Fund supports three important focus areas. A top priority is to provide funding for education, training, and awareness to St. Lawrence County schools for programs and projects centered on cyberbullying and cyber safety, anti-bullying, and character education.

“We believe the best way to remember Riley is to foster strong relationships with youth and educate all community members about the hazards of social media,” Mrs. Rodee and Mr. Basford said.

Riley’s fund will also support students with demonstrated needs at Potsdam Central School and help students enrolled at St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES with funding to secure materials for classes or help BOCES graduates entering the workforce.

“Honoring and remembering Riley with this legacy fund is very important to us,” said Mrs. Rodee and Mr. Basford. “Having the support of the Community Foundation to guide us in starting this fund during our time of grief has been comforting and uplifting.”

The Community Foundation will help steward the application process for the Riley Basford Legacy Fund.

An advisory committee of family, friends, and citizens will partner with the Community Foundation to determine grants from Riley’s fund from time to time.

“To have the trust of Riley’s family and play a small role in creating a lasting legacy for him is a great privilege,” said Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director. “The fund’s purpose and who it supports will ensure Riley will be remembered as a difference-maker in the Potsdam community and across St. Lawrence County forever. The Community Foundation is honored to help fulfill this mission for him and his family.”

“Riley’s nickname was ‘Rizer,’” added Mrs. Rodee and Mr. Basford. “We are being called to be ‘Rizers.’ A ‘Rizer’ identifies and offers support to others in need, and a ‘Rizer’ also asks for and takes help when they need it.”

To help build the Riley Basford Legacy Fund, make gifts to the Northern New York Community Foundation, 131 Washington Street, Watertown 13601, and designate your gift to the Riley Basford Legacy Fund.

You may also access secure online giving at nnycf.org. To learn more about the application and fund’s purpose, contact Mr. DelSignore at max@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110.