On June 25, 2003, Class of 1999 Northern alum Brady Minich, at the age of 22, died in an automobile accident(1) in Suffolk County, New York. Brady, a 2003 Susquehanna University graduate(1), was well-known in the Dillsburg community, from playing football and wrestling to being on the student council. He was a favorite Big Buddy, was often caught laughing and having fun with his friends, and loved sports, camping, and travel.
Brady Minich. Northern student, Class of 1999. Photos provided by Minich family.
Brady’s mother, Sherie Minich, and sister, Angie (Minich) Burge, made it their mission to see good come from Brady’s passing and created the Brady Minich Fund through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), with a goal of allowing Brady’s legacy of giving and caring to live on through scholarships and various other projects within his beloved communities.(2)
“He was loved in return by everybody who knew him.” -Angie (Minich) Burge(3)
Brady Minich. Northern student, Class of 1999. Photo provided by Minich family.
In August 2024, Brady’s family approached the Polar Bear Foundation and asked the PBF to take this giving and caring one step further by redefining the Fund’s purpose: to help Kindergarten to 12th-grade Northern students achieve success by overcoming barriers, such as covering the cost of:
- Cleats to uniforms to band equipment rental costs
- Sports/band/academic camp fees
- Sports/band/academic competition fees
- Tutors
- Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts
- Testing fees/SAT fees
- Fees for certifications for Vo-Tech students
- Anything that helps a student belong, grow, and achieve.
Brady Minich. A member of the Northern High School Wrestling team. Photo provided by Minich family.
Brady’s family has entrusted the PBF with a one-time donation of $33,000.00. The PBF is very interested in continued funding by having Northern supporters and students get involved through fundraisers at football games, wrestling matches, key club initiatives, etc, so Brady’s legacy can continue to help students overcome barriers.
Each school year will have a spending cap of $5,000.00.
SUBMIT A NEEDS-BASED GRANT REQUEST HERE
DONATE TO THE BRADY MINICH FUND
Monies donated to the Brady Minich fund will enable the PBF to continue supporting NYSCD students to achieve success!
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Director of Operations, Natalie Slothower, at Natalie@PolarBearFoundation.net.
REFERENCES
1-Obituary
2-Quote
3-Quote
