The Emily’s Light: Young Minds Matter Fund will support mental health programs serving adolescents and young adults in Washington County, PA.
Kind, artistic, spunky, ornery, and just a little clumsy, Emily Zoretich had a personality that filled every room she entered. She had a quick laugh, especially when her mom was “too slow” playing rat slap, a game Emily never tired of and somehow always seemed to win. She loved simple moments like that: sitting at the table with her family, cards flying, laughter echoing through the house.
While Emily never really enjoyed helping her mom in the kitchen, unless it was for taste testing, she loved being beside her dad in the shop, working on cars, learning to weld, or tinkering with her new dirt bikes. She was up for any project, happiest when her hands were busy and even happier when she was hanging out with her brother.
Emily was a ninth-grade student and a proud high-honor student, something she worked hard for and carried with quiet pride. She was active in Game Club and Stage Crew for school plays, happy to be part of the behind-the-scenes magic. Music was her constant companion; there was almost always Alexa playing or earbuds in, her playlist following her from room to room.
An artist at heart, Emily left her creativity everywhere, especially around the family farm she loved. Her drawings and anime art gave color to ordinary spaces and showed the gentle, imaginative way she saw the world. She enjoyed watching shows like Burn Notice, spending time with her pets, and simply being near the people she loved most.
Above all, Emily cared deeply. She loved her brother fiercely, adored her pets, and had a soft heart for anyone who needed one. If she could leave the world with a message, it would be simple and true to who she was: “Be kind; your words matter.”
In the review of applications, special consideration may be given to programs that promote mental wellness and raise awareness of locally available resources, Christian faith-based programs, and/or those that incorporate the arts.