Student Voice Project

Though Dillon had many gifts and passions, the one he planned to make his life's work was writing. In a 10th grade Honors class that his English teacher called "the best I'll ever have," Dillon stood out from a brilliant pack, and left no doubt in anyone's mind that his unique voice would be heard far and wide. Dillon loved words for themselves, for the ideas they allowed him to express, and for the truths they allowed him to tell.

The Foundation supports the Student Voice Project (SVP), a non-profit writing and literacy program working to improve educational opportunities for kids in LA's most over-crowded, underperforming schools. SVP has designed a program that side-steps school district bureaucracy and provides direct support for school newspapers and other student media programs, in addition to providing ongoing professional development for the teachers who oversee them. Issues of social justice were extremely important to Dillon, and our partnership with SVP honors his memory by giving students a "voice" in inner-city schools where journalism programs are underfunded or non-existent. With only 16‰ of LAUSD students graduating with even minimal proficiency in writing, and another 50% dropping out before graduation, SVP seeks to improve academic outcomes through high quality writing instruction, while giving students a platform for self-expression and an avenue to explore and reflect upon their world.

Learn more about Student Voice Project

Jewish World Watch, Darfur

When Dillon was young, he created a spectacular memorial as part of a school project on the Holocaust, which contained poetry, photos and other writings which showed his despair over the death of millions of people based on religious beliefs. And as he grew, he continued to be outraged and disheartened by the continuous human rights violations across the world. Dillon got involved with funding a water well project in Darfur providing much needed water to a refugee camp.

Our Foundation will create the Dillon Henry Community Health Clinic in partnership with JWW, which will be built through the International Medical Corps. This is the opportunity to honor Dillon's memory by providing primary health care and community health for displaced and conflict affected populations in Ouadda Djalle, Vakaga Prefecture, Central African Republic. JWW and IMC have already successfully partnered to build two medical clinics in Darfur/Chad to service the critical needs of refugees and indigenous populations, who are survivors of genocide and completely dependent on foreign aid. We believe that establishing this medical clinic will honor Dillon's commitment for fighting injustice all over the world.

Donate to JWW Darfur | Learn more about JWW Darfur

Please make sure to specify 'Dillon Henry' in the dedication portion.

Surfrider Foundation

With the passion of a surfer who looks forward to the freedom the ocean brings and the thrill of catching the next wave, Dillon co-chaired the Ocean Awareness Club at his high school to protect our oceans and spread awareness of the pollutants and toxins threatening the life within it. It is with this same spirit that our Foundation will work in partnership with Surfrider Foundation to establish the:

1. Dillon Henry Memorial Endowed Internship:
In the last ten years Surfrider has employed two or three interns during the summer to assist in their environmental efforts. Many interns have been from college or post graduate level students from top programs in the US. Nearly all the interns have been subsequently employed by governmental environmental agencies, or other known environmental organizations, or become full time Surfrider staff. These interns get paid a nominal stipend $2500- $5000 for their summer work. A named endowment would allow us to continue to hire and train these interns in perpetuity. The Dillon Henry Foundation and its members will be updated on the work these interns are doing and can follow the interns paths of their chosen careers to continue to help save the environment for our future.

2. High School and College Club Coordinator
There is a demand for High School and college level Surfrider Clubs like the one Dillon began. We believe that with proper attention another 70 clubs in the United States could be started in the next five years. Such a network would allow high school and college age students to get involved in our important mission related work. Currently there is not enough staff to properly manage and service these many clubs and provide the coordination for effectiveness and productivity.

Donate to Surfrider | Learn more about Surfrider

Please make sure to specify 'Dillon Henry' in the dedication portion.

CASA - Friends of Childhood Advocates Project

Dillon has always loved children, and had a magical connection with them whether tutoring them or working as a helper for many years at the local pre-school. He watched his family work with abused, abandoned or neglected children and donated a portion of his birthday money to assist funding CASA. Dillon knew he was fortunate to have landed in a place that afforded him all the benefits of a good life and understood his responsibility to give back to those less fortunate. In fact it was his dream to help children without the support of a loving family, and thus his Foundation now joins CASA to create Dillon's Fund.

Dillon's Fund will honor Dillon's love and desire to help children and to support CASA kids who need so much and have so little. The fund will provide for a special need that is not available to children in foster care. This may be extra scholarship money for a hard working student who carries two jobs, or a performing art camp for a child who shows talent but has no way to develop it, or perhaps for a new adoptive father who needs additional funds to prepare for his new role as a father by attending parenting classes. Dillon's Fund is an extension of the CASA philosophy that every child is entitled to a childhood with support from caring adults and an opportunity to succeed.

Donate to CASA Los Angeles | Learn more about CASA

Please make sure to specify 'Dillon Henry' in the dedication portion.

Palisades High School Scholarship

Dillon loved his high school by the sea. Attending this school of 2800 students allowed him to get a powerful educational opportunity, expand his talents in writing, continue to surf, play soccer and make hundreds of wonderful connections with a diverse group of teachers and students. Everyone who met him was able to see his easy going manner, his engaging smile and often funny antics, but also the determination and character that he brought to school with him every day. This mutual respect and love of school and student will create a scholarship through the Foundation at Palisades Charter High School in Dillon’s name.

At PaliHi, four scholarships in Dillon's name are being offered this year to students coupled with an endowment that will insure this gift to deserving students far into the future. Two scholarships will be given to students showing a commitment to education and who exemplify qualities that distinguish them as people who show heart, appreciation and caring within our world. One of the scholarships is looking for students with writing talents and one with a focus on community involvement. Additionally, funding is being raised for a leadership retreat for students entering high school (9th grade). Please donate now to honor Dillon's memory and benefit Palisades Charter High School students forever.

Donate to Palisades Charter High School | Learn more about PCHS

Wildwood School Scholarship

The Seven Habits of the Mind and Heart are the guidelines for a meaningful life and part of the Wildwood philosophy that creates passionate students who become empowered to make a difference in the world. Dillon attended Wildwood in middle school and his sister, Taylor, will graduate in 2010. Dillon’s instincts of “paying it forward” and using his communication skills to make the world a better place, allowed him to grow and find his voice as a writer while in attendance there. Dillon was seriously invested in his own education and was an ambassador for using the habits of connection and perspective in his daily life.

The Dillon Henry Foundation is committed to supporting innovative programs at Wildwood School that connect to Dillon's essence. A scholarship and subsequent endowment to participate in Wildwood's International Community Involvement (ICI), which is an opportunity to make a difference in the world locally, nationally and internationally, has begun fundraising. Students in ICI use their heart and minds by immersing themselves in a new culture and partnerships with other young people to engage in meaningful work. Two other distinctly different areas, but also close to Dillon's heart, were writing and leadership. An annual leadership retreat and/or the possibility of permanent funding for a Wildwood publication (newspaper or magazine) by the students is being budgeting as well. Support these worthwhile efforts at Wildwood and honor Dillon's memory.

Donate to Wildwood School | Learn more about Wildwood School