4 minute read
Impact and Give Back
Leaving aLegacy
BY LIESEL SCHMIDT
For anyone who met Henry Alexander Wise V, the phrase “reckless abandon” is one that summed up the way he loved, the way he lived life and the way he showed the love of Christ. For anyone who never met the young man, that reckless abandon can still be felt in the legacy he left behind, through the work of the organization created in his memory, HAW5.
Lost tragically at the age of 19 to a boating accident in the summer of 2017, Henry was a popular member of the community and an alumnus of Bayside Academy in Daphne. He was an avid athlete, having played football and soccer during high school—both with great passion and an ability that made him one to watch. But more than his grades, more than his athleticism, was his personality: a charisma and love of life and people that made him magnetic. “He had an infectious personality,” says his father, Sandy Wise. “He was funny and full of life, and he was loved by everyone who had the honor of knowing him.” Naturally, Henry’s loss was felt deeply by his family, friends and community. But keeping his memory alive—along with the way he touched everyone he met—is HAW5, created by his father. “We wanted to create a foundation to help and support emergency responders, and we later added a focus on sending kids to camps during the summer,” says Sandy. “Part of our mission is to introduce young teenagers to Christ by sending them to JH Ranch and Young Life camps. Christ was an important part of Henry’s life, and we want to give that to other young people, as well. We want them to have everlasting life in Christ as well as a strong foundation for life.”
Benefitting JH Ranch, Young Life, Bayside Academy, and KlassKids Foundation, HAW5 also supports several search and rescue organizations—which were called upon in the search for Henry’s body after the accident. “Each of these organizations makes an incredible difference, and in supporting their work, we are honoring Henry’s memory,” says Sandy
In addition to the support of these organizations, HAW5 has also established an award to benefit students at Bayside Academy in their junior year. Students who receive the HAW5 award embody Henry’s spirit and the way that he lived: infectiously happy, kind toward their fellow students, actively involved in as many activities as possible, always trying to better themselves and keeping a great attitude, constantly seizing the day and living with a love for life and those around them. The student, selected by the students and staff, will receive $1,000 from the foundation to go directly to their tuition for the next school year. The student will also sit on the HAW5 Foundation Board for one year. During that time, the student will be responsible for gifting another $1,000 to the charity of their choice. Finally, each year’s recipient presents the HAW5 Award to the next year’s recipient.
Through the work it has done as a foundation and in its student awards, HAW5 has kept alive the legacy and spirit of a very special young man. And despite the fact that he was lost so young and so unexpectedly, Henry continues to make a difference in the future generations of his community. His generosity of heart can still be felt—and will continue to be, for years to come.
For more information on HAW5, visit HAW5.com.
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