“Be a Bud”
Hi! My name is Ella Sjosten, and I’m a senior at The Prout School. First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for being named Wavemaker of the Month and for all of the support I received on behalf of my uncle, Bud. I also want to thank my Yia Yia and Bud’s best friend for helping me put all of this together- I couldn’t have done it without her.
When my uncle Bud passed, I knew I wanted to do something for him in his memory- something that would raise awareness of how much he impacted the lives around him. I wanted to give back to the community and find a way to keep the light he brought to others’ lives aglow.
I created the project “Be a Bud” in his memory, to draw attention to the values he lived out and to bring some light to the lives of others, just as Bud did for everyone around him. To “Be a Bud” is to be selfless, loving, generous, kind, and thoughtful- and I knew I needed to keep those values present in a world that so often lacks them.
Coming up with this project also meant deciding where the proceeds should go. That led me to the Herren Project, which Bud held near and dear to his heart. Bud is a Herren Project Legacy Ambassador, and he believed the Herren Project gave him a second chance at life. He was sober for over 30 years, right up until the day he passed, and he dedicated so much of his time and energy to expressing gratitude for that second chance by giving back as a community member and, most importantly, as a friend.
Picking a location and date was difficult. I had to make sure that wherever I chose for the event to take place would still allow the proceeds to go to The Herren Project. I knew I wanted to do a run because Bud loved running- and because it would be a fun way to bring the community together. I kept thinking about a Herren Project hat I got from Bud that said “Run Grateful.” That’s when I thought about the Thanksgiving Pie Run through the Newport County YMCA. On a day when we’re reminded to be grateful for our friends and family, Thanksgiving felt like the perfect day to honor him. I was lucky enough to meet with Cori Kilzi from the YMCA, who graciously offered to partner with me so I could make this project a reality.
To help raise proceeds, I designed posters and hung them up around my town and school. I also sang duets with my Voo Voo at an open mic night- at the same place where my grandparents first met Bud and became friends. That night alone, we raised over two hundred and fifty dollars! I’m proud to share that in total, with the help of so many others, I raised over two thousand dollars in memory of my uncle Bud.
It truly means so much to me to see the mark he left on others’ lives, and how willing people were to help me give back to the community in memory of someone who always put the needs of others before himself.
Thank you again to everybody who helped me put this project together and supported me along the way, especially my grandparents (Pam and Dave Sardinha), Bonnie Sawyer, Cori Kilzi, and Gary Fish. I’m so grateful for what we were able to accomplish in memory of Bud.
Want to make an impact like this, too? You can become a Wavemaker just like Ella by hosting your own race or community fundraiser through the Herren Project’s Own Your Own Race program. Whether it’s a run, walk, open mic night, or something totally your own, you can rally your community, honor someone you love, and help support Herren Project’s mission—one step at a time.
