Powerful Memories
"I know that you might not remember my name, but I was one of Colin's best friends at Elon until I transferred to another university. I received the phone call from Eliana yesterday. I've been trying to figure out words of comfort to reach out and let you know how I feel about Colin but I have none. It's too difficult as I'm sure you know. He will be unbelievably missed, and changed so many lives. I thought you might want to hear this though, he has brought several of us, who had lost touch for several years back together over this horrible news. We have all been discussing the joy he brought our lives, and what we can do to celebrate him and make sure we all stay connected again. All Colin cared for was other peoples joy, he was ALWAYS there for each and every one of us, and held many of us together. I pray, we can make him proud for the rest of our lives. I'm sorry for you and your families pain. I feel it too, so much of the world is grieving for him, and we all have spots in our hearts that will forever be filled by him. So hopefully, he will live on in us."
"I want to honor one of my best friends: the late, great Colin Hiriak. Colin passed away yesterday after fighting cancer for 1 1/2 years and though gone will never be forgotten. He was the warmest person I've ever met and time always flew by in his presence. My partner in crime in college and my confidante always. He has changed my life in so many ways including enjoying the little things more, learning how to slow down at times, and learning billiards together. A 100% class act from start to finish. Rest well my brother, I'll join you in the next phase soon enough. In the meantime, I'll take this better version of myself you helped make
and do the best I can."
A Son Lost/An Impossible Soul to Match
The inspiration for our Foundation comes from its namesake, Colin Hiriak. Dedicated to Colin, The Foundation carries on his legacy of caring deeply for others. Even during his final days, in significant pain and knowing that the cancer had beaten him, Colin sent messages to his family and loved ones thanking them for their love and reassuring them that he was going to be okay. We carry on his mantra of, "For Others."
What We Believe
The Colin Hiriak Foundation believes that families affected by a devastating illness must be afforded an environment of magnified compassion and empathy by health-care systems. We believe the complexity of these situations must be recognized, and communication and financial efforts must be resourced appropriately. We further believe that education efforts addressing these life-altering conditions for all present and future policy leaders must be enhanced.
Our Commitment "For Others"
Based on our beliefs, The Colin Hiriak Foundation strives to help families gain access to communication and financial resources such that their loved ones can receive the best possible care, regardless of where it is located. The Foundation will also work to inspire all U.S-based health-care systems to commit to a true understanding of the needs of families dealing with difficult diagnosis and to adjust their practices to ensure optimal interaction between their departments, patients and their families. Finally, The Foundation will proudly fund medical research to maximize outcomes for patients diagnosed with devastating illnesses.