The ripple effect of a life well-lived, despite how brief, can be powerful. Such is the legacy of Ben Morrison, who passed away in 2021 at age 19, and the inspiration for the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund (BMMF).
The foundation’s mission is to provide support to kids, often high schoolers, who are experiencing adversity, especially those in the midst of a mental health crisis. To erase the stigma often associated with seeking help at such times. To get those in crisis talking. To prevent suicides. It’s also about encouraging and rewarding the kindness and compassion Ben exhibited to family, friends and strangers every day.
BMMF does this in a variety of ways since its founding in March 2021. To date, it has awarded 31 scholarships totaling $27,500 to senior athletes at Loveland High School. Throughout the year, BMMF sponsors mental health awareness activities and events in area schools throughout the community, and provides a resource list on its website of mental health agencies and organizations. And so much more.
But to really appreciate the impact the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund has had on the community, it’s necessary to know who Ben was and meet the Fund’s founder, Ben’s mom, Tori. For it was Tori, with the support of her family, who started the foundation within a month of Ben’s death. It wasn’t anything she ever could have imagined doing four years ago.
Ben, a varsity athlete who played football and lacrosse at Loveland High School, was the kind of friend everyone wants—kind, caring, always looking for ways to help. “He could tell when one of his friends was having a bad day and needed to talk,” Tori says.
Like everyone, Ben’s life was upended by COVID in March 2020, the spring of his senior year. There was no prom, no real graduation, and for Ben, no final lacrosse season. Thoughts of possibly heading to college in the fall to play lacrosse evaporated as weeks turned to months. Uncertain of what his future was, he got one of those jobs deemed necessary during the pandemic, loading UPS trucks. Eventually, he began to consider future options.
His mom and dad, Donnie, made it clear that whatever course Ben chose, they would wholeheartedly support him. And in time, Ben decided he would explore the idea of becoming a firefighter. There were two possible paths: enrolling in the Great Oaks program for firefighter/emergency medical service certification or going through the Cincinnati Fire Academy.
March 2, 2021, began much like any other day in the Morrison household. Ben was awake as Tori prepared to leave for work. He had stayed up past midnight to fill out the online application to take the Cincinnati Fire Academy’s civil service exam.
“I told him, ‘That’s awesome, but remember we still have another way if that doesn’t work out,’” Tori recalls.
Later that day, Tori realized she had forgotten something she needed and called Ben, who brought it to her. “When I saw him at about 1:30p, everything seemed fine,” she says. Three hours later, Ben was gone.
“So what changes in someone’s life in three hours … had he been suffering a long time or was it a rash, in-the-moment decision?” Tori asks. “I’ll never know. I’ve talked to his friends, former teachers and coaches … no one thought anything was wrong.” Nor did anyone in the family.
As the family began to process their grief, it quickly became clear they wanted to do something significant to honor Ben’s memory, and an athletic scholarship in his name seemed the obvious answer. Loveland High School reacted quickly to this idea and their offer—and a mere two months later, three of Ben’s former teammates were recipients.
Within a month, Tori established the nonprofit Ben Morrison Memorial Fund as a means of fundraising to support future scholarships. A golf tournament on Father’s Day that year brought out 52 players. “Things just developed organically from there,” Tori explains. Several local organizations and businesses came forward to sponsor fundraisings events and make donations. Since then, community support has continued to grow.
Some of the most popular events have become annual fundraisers, like the outing at Fowling Warehouse to celebrate Ben’s birthday. “It’s throwing footballs at bowling pins,” Tori says, smiling, explaining the cornhole-meets-bowling-with-footballs game. “Ben loved it. His birthday was February 11, but we always hold it the first Sunday after the 'Big Game.'” This year it’ll be on February 16. Cappy’s also sponsors an annual BMMF fundraiser in May to mark Mental Awareness Month.
A critical part of the foundation’s efforts still centers around the work that Tori does in schools to raise awareness and to encourage kids to seek help if they are in a dark place. The ultimate goal, of course, is to keep them moving forward toward the life and possibilities that lie ahead.
For a full list of events, programs, partners and mental health resources, visit the BMMF website or Facebook page. If you or someone you know needs to talk, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Ben’s Way
Last year, Ben’s Way was created to honor the qualities Ben exhibited every day. Kids are rewarded for spontaneous acts of compassion, kindness and leadership that are witnessed by school employees. Winners receive a certificate recognizing their act and an Amazon gift card. And the idea has caught on—Ben’s Way is now in nine area schools, with a number of local companies taking part as well. To become a Ben’s Way sponsor or start the program in your school or organization, email BensWayInitiative@gmail.com.
“Loveland is a tremendous community. I can’t say enough about the support we’ve received. People turn out for our events and always donate generously.” - Tori