The Cro Foundation - Year in Review 2024

Happy New Year Family, Friends, and Colleagues. We’d like to highlight the great things we’ve done in 2024 in memory of our son Ryan. This is our first full year as a Foundation, and we are quite proud of our achievements. We’ve been able to support many great initiatives and other organizations who are doing great work in our community.  

  • Installed a Daktronics Baseball Score Board at Freedom Park, Field 1. Donated to Sykesville Baseball. This project started much earlier than March, going back to June of 2023. The final product looks great and is supporting the baseball program today. Installed March - Project cost: $19,555

  • Liberty High School Baseball, Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Bronze Sponsor. $200 (April). As a baseball family, it’s great to support our local high school team.

  • Liberty High School, Class of 2024, Scholarships. We decided to award something to every applicant given this was Ryan’s class and the applicant pool was tremendous. Scholarships ranged from $500 to $5,000. Total amount awarded $20,500 (May)

  • Jonathan B. Loden Foundation, Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Hole Sponsor. $1,250 (September). Dear friends of ours lost their son/brother, Jonathan, in 2006 after a battle with head and neck cancer, at just 33 years old. It’s an honor to support them every year with their golf tournament fundraiser, it’s in the 17/18th year.  Proceeds go to the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. They have raised over $210K over the years. $1,250 (September).

  • Our Foundation has aligned in support of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland (BIAMD).  Given that we lost Ryan to a Traumatic Brain Injury it’s a very meaningful alignment. The BIAMD brings health, hope, and healing to thousands of Marylanders living with brain injury, their families, and the professionals who serve them. $7,000 donation resulting from our Crab Feast Fundraiser. (Fundraiser in September and donation made in November),

  • Brain Injury Association of Maryland (BIAMD), Scarecrow 5K Food Sponsor. We also were a sponsor of their 5k race at Piney Run Park. $1,500 (September)

  • The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of the Patapsco Valley. When we first lost Ryan, we did not know how to process everything. We found the TCF and went to some of their monthly meetings. The group consists of bereaved parents helping each other, sharing their loss, sharing how they cope with grief, but most importantly saying their loved one’s name. There is a level of comfort knowing that we were not in this alone, and unfortunately, there are others walking a similar path. $2,500 (December)

Total for the year $52,505 – Pretty Amazing!

We could not have made any of this happen without the continued support from so many.  Thank you so very much and please have a happy and healthy 2025.

The Cro Foundation, In Memory of Ryan (www.thecrofoundation.org)

Nate, Bonnie, and Sean Crochunis

Hold the date for our next Crab Feast – September 20, 2025.  Same venue in Sykesville, MD. 

The First Annual Cro Foundation Crab Feast a Success!

Thank you to everyone who supported us! The generosity and support from everyone have been amazing.

We welcomed 320 guests to The First Annual Cro Foundation Crab Feast and Fund Raiser. The event was held on September 21st, 2024 at Legacy Hall in the Sykesville Fire Station. It was a great turn out and a good time was had by all. It was a tremendous way to honor and remember our son Ryan Crochunis, who we lost in August of 2022.

Picture of the event can be found here:

The Cro Foundation (pmphotography.us)

Thanks to Masha at PM Photography, LLC for taking such great photos!

Proceeds from the event will go to further our purpose of Honoring and Remembering Ryan, Healing as Bereaved Parents, Family Members, and Friends all while Helping our community, and those in it. Our 3-H’s Honor, Heal, and Help.

Thanks to the Brain Injury Association of MD (BIAMD) for attending the event. A portion of the proceeds will go to the BIAMD to help Marylanders who are Brain Injury survivors and their caregivers. Given the success we are considering doing this again next year. Please check back here for updates.

In Memory of Ryan Crochunis

The Crochunis family (from left to right): Ryan, Bonnie, Nate and Sean

The Cro Foundation was established in 2023 in memory of Ryan Crochunis (June 2, 2006-August 2, 2022). Ryan was a 16-year-old boy with a big personality and a bright future ahead of him. Tragically, Ryan’s life was cut short by a traumatic brain injury incurred from a skateboarding accident. A basic protective helmet would have saved Ryan’s life.

From this tragedy, The Cro Foundation was created to remember Ryan’s life and his tremendous impact on those around him, as well as to continue his legacy through charitable activities.

The Cro Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization with two objectives: to memorialize and celebrate the life of Ryan Crochunis, and support his local community through charitable donations and community initiatives identified by the foundation’s board.

Join us on this journey

Learn more about the work of The Cro Foundation and get involved today! Your time and donations are a deeply appreciated and meaningful contribution to keeping the memory of Ryan Crochunis alive.