Josh Vesslee Foundation
Josh Vesslee Foundation
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About this organization
Mission
The Josh Vesslee Foundation provides educational assistance and opportunities for youth who are members or friends of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philadelphia area.
About
On August 4, 2017, 16-year-old Josh Vesslee was killed in a shooting.[1] In an instant, Josh became one of approximately 1,300 gun violence victims in Philadelphia that year.[2] Children under the age of 18, like Josh, comprised 13% of those victims. Street violence is a growing concern among parents and youth in Philadelphia. Although there are many causes of street violence, lack of academic opportunities for low-income and inner-city youth and families is a contributing factor. In 2019, only 69% of Philadelphia School District’s 12th grade students graduated from high school; only 54% of students attended college the next fall. More alarmingly, only 26% of surveyed students claimed they were ready for college and/or a career.[3] Consequentially, many parents and guardians choose to enroll their children in one of Philadelphia’s many successful private schools; however, that isn’t a financially feasible option for low-income families in the area. Josh was a bright and aspiring student. He wanted to be a nurse practitioner someday. Josh attended a local STEM charter school, Science and Leadership Academy, and had participated in a STEM summer program at Temple University. In fact, Josh was anxiously awaiting a college tour at Temple University, scheduled just a few days after his death. Although Josh may have passed away from gun violence, his passion for life, commitment to academic pursuits, and legacy did not pass away with him. Following Josh’s passing, Dan and Katie Heist, friends of the Vesslee family, conceived the idea of a nonprofit organization that would provide better academic opportunities for low-income and inner-city youth attending congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philadelphia area. The nonprofit will assist youth and their families with funding for school tuition, uniforms, transportation, extracurricular activities, and other academic fees. Dan, Katie, and Victoria—Josh’s mom—are hoping that better academic opportunities will decrease street violence and break cyclical poverty among Philadelphia youth. More importantly, however, they hope scholarship recipients will have an increased opportunity to make a difference in the world—just as Josh made a difference during his life and continues to make a difference through his namesake organization—The Josh Vesslee Foundation. [1] Newhouse, Sam, “Philly Teen's Future Snatched Away by Ambush Killer,” Metro Philadelphia, September 17, 2017, https://metrophiladelphia.com/philly-teens-future-snatched-away-by-ambush-killer/. [2] “Interactive: Mapping Philadelphia’s Gun Violence Crisis,” Office of the Controller, October 5, 2021, https://controller.phila.gov/philadelphia-audits/mapping-gun-violence/#/2017. [3] “District Performance Office,” The School District of Philadelphia, accessed February 3, 20222, https://www.philasd.org/performance/programsservices;school-progress-reports/district-scorecard/#AG1_college_carreer.