A Lasting Commitment to Casey Cares Families
For David Beares, becoming involved with the Casey Cares Foundation was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. During the early years of his business, David was training Casey Baynes in his gym when he began thinking about organizing a community fundraiser. He knew he wanted to bring people together for a meaningful cause, but he had not yet decided which organization to support. After getting to know Casey, the answer quickly became clear. “I instantly took to Casey’s positive attitude, and I loved the mission of Casey Cares,” David recalled.
That initial idea grew into the Kettlebell Swing-A-Thon, a fundraiser David continues to lead in support of Casey Cares. This year’s event will be held on September 20, bringing the community together to raise funds and awareness for the foundation’s programs. David’s ongoing commitment to the event reflects his belief that every effort, large or small, can make a meaningful difference for critically ill children and their families.
As a father of three healthy children, the foundation’s mission has always pulled at David’s heartstrings. He and his wife recognize how fortunate their family has been and how difficult it is to imagine the pain of watching a child endure repeated hospital visits, or wanting desperately to take away a child’s pain and being unable to do so. David believes these families deserve opportunities to step away from the stress of treatment and simply enjoy time together. “Anything the foundation does, big or small, has the ability to help the family feel more present, positive and loved,” he shared.
One encounter showed David just how meaningful that support can be. While leaving an Orioles game with his family, he noticed another family wearing Casey Cares shirts and introduced himself as a member of the Board. The family immediately began expressing their heartfelt gratitude to David and his wife for everything the foundation had done for them. David had not approached them looking for recognition, but their emotional response left a lasting impression. It reminded him that the time, effort and resources devoted to Casey Cares truly make a difference in the lives of the families it serves.
Through his Board service, David hopes to help ensure that every child and family who needs Casey Cares can receive its support. “Casey always says they’ve never turned anyone away, and I want to make sure that remains the case,” he said. His commitment reflects the heart of the foundation’s mission: giving critically ill children and their families a much-needed break while helping them feel supported, encouraged and loved.
