The Fairport motto of ‘Once a Raider, Always a Raider’ is alive across all corners of the Fairport community. One of the clearest distillations of the spirit of the Raider Way goes by an unassuming name: the Joey Fund. The Joey Fund operates out of Fairport High School, but serves the entire District - without fanfare, without praise, without celebration - and is a bright example of the best of Fairport. 

The Joey Fund was founded in 1998 after a Fairport student was killed in a traffic accident. His loved ones faced hardship paying for his funeral, so the administration and staff of Fairport High School collected funds to help lay the student to rest. In gratitude, the student’s family later donated money to help students and staff create the Joey Fund. 

Out of tragedy and with compassion and generosity, the Fund was founded to assist Fairport families in crisis. It’s made up entirely of donations, and is facilitated through Fairport High School, although it serves families from all of Fairport’s eight schools. 

“The Joey Fund was established by students at Fairport High School to help our community by providing a source of financial relief to Fairport School District families of students recently involved in a disaster, crisis, long-term illness, or other unusual situation which may cause severe stress on their own resources and ability to meet financial responsibilities.” - Joey Fund Mission Statement

Through their work with students and families, District social workers, along with counselors and administrators, identify families in crisis. They connect those families with sources of support, and if the need arises, those staff members will reach out to the Joey Fund Committee. The Committee is made up of four students, Fairport High School Principal Bob Clark and advisor Tina Trudeau, a School Social Worker. If the family’s needs meet the Joey Fund Mission Statement, the Committee disburses funds for a one-time payment directly to the agencies involved. Trudeau says that this could be anything from an overdue utility bill to a rent payment or a purchase of groceries, bedding or clothing after a house fire.

“The unique part of the Joey Fund is that it is behind the scenes,” said Trudeau. ”We talk about the Fairport family a lot, and we know families can be messy…and when things are hard, we take care of our people.”

Fairport High School senior Ryan Mathis has been a member of the Joey Fund Committee for three years. He serves as the Committee’s treasurer and says that as a student-athlete, he experiences the public celebrations that Fairport is known for - and that as a member of the Joey Fund Committee, he is able to show love and compassion to members of the Fairport community that need a win. 

“We say Fairport is like a family, and it’s really true…helping people out is a great thing to be able to do,” said Mathis. “[The Fairport] family gives back to support each other.” 

Tina Trudeau says that during the 2023-2024 school year, the Joey Fund distributed $14,259.68 in relief for Fairport families. So far this school year, the Fund has distributed more than $4,500 in emergency payments.

“I'm honored to be entrusted with the responsibility to be one of the caretakers of this enduring legacy,” said Fairport High School Principal Bob Clark. “It amazes me that without any consistent source of funding outside of the annual Friends of Fairport donation that this fund is able to support so many families in times of crisis.

“This is due in large part to the many anonymous donations we receive each year from individuals and families wanting to make a difference without any fanfare. It is truly a privilege to be a steward of this fund and to carry the tradition of ‘taking care of our own’ forward.”

For the past several years, the District has come together to celebrate the values of Compassion, Awareness, Respect and Embracing differences during Brotherhood-Sisterhood Week in March. This year, the District is holding a t-shirt fundraiser courtesy of our amazing community partners at Crazy Dog T-shirts. Beginning March 3, "Raider Nation Cares" shirts will be on sale in Main Offices for $5, with all proceeds going to the Joey Fund.

To learn more about the Joey Fund, contact Tina Trudeau at tina.trudeau@fairport.org.

Pictured below: Members of the Joey Fund Committee with a generous donation from Crazy Dog T-shirts.