SPIRIT Foundation Rises, 2010-2011 - 
December 12, 2010, Rockville, Maryland 
Wanting to do positive things in the wake of Robert Yin’s tragic death, friends and family created the Robert Yin SPIRIT Foundation Inc. The Foundation supports educational and charitable projects as a means to grow SPIRIT amongst our youth and community. Robert is remembered for his positive spirit. In keeping with Robert's spirit, the Foundation adopted the word “SPIRIT" and the mission to promote initiatives that “Show Potential, Integrity, Responsibility, and Inspire Thousands.”

The Foundation focuses its attention on educational scholarship, music, performing arts, athletics, sports safety, and organ donation - a broad set of topics with a common thread: all touched Robert's life.
The Foundation will raise money for charitable causes by hosting concerts, races, and dances. These activities are both SPIRIT-lifting and fund-raising activities. With donations from friends and family, the SPIRIT Foundation gives gifts or grants back to schools and the community.

The Foundation got its start when a group of Robert's friends got together to talk about what they could do. His friends wanted to help somehow. Ask ten people and you get ten answers. But when the people are Robert's friends - all smart and many former Senior Planners - you get en projects!

The result is a year's worth of activities to honor Robert, have fun, raise money, and raise SPIRIT. The SPIRIT Foundation is dedicating the 2010-2011 school year following Robert's death to remember Robert:

These are the recent events:  
  • Robert's 21st Birthday - December 12, 2010 - organized by family and classmates. The SPIRIT Foundation announces two gifts to Wootton High School. One a $5000 annual SPIRIT Scholarship to a Wootton graduating senior. The second gift is to commission a music composter to create a work of music for strings orchestra and chorus, to be performed in May 2010 (see the blog about the Scholarship and Music Commission).
  • The Burrito Run - November 27, 2010 - organized by Kerry Nisson, Jess Rinn, and Veronica Salcido. About 60 people gathered on a cold, windy, November day to eat a burrito and the run a mile - or to watch people do that (see the Burrito Run blog).
Recent events (continued):  
  • The Rock for Robert Concert - November 24, 2010 - organized by Brad Harlan and Georgia Yang, with eight performing artists bands or soloists. Hundreds came to the Rock for Robert Concert to hear good music, have a good time, see old friends, and remember Robert (see the blog about Rock for Robert).
  • The 4x400Meter Relay - August 13, 2010 - organized by Yoshi Hiroguchi.  About 50 runners came. We designed the Team Robert t-shirts and sold about 35 that night (see the Balloon Angel blog). 
Coming in the Spring of 2011 will be:
  • Waiting for applicants to apply for the SPIRIT Scholarship - due no later than April 1, 2011. Applicants must have a strong academic and extracurricular record, write an essay, and produce a YouTube video (see the Scholarship page for more info).
  • SPIRIT Scholarship Awards Ceremony and Semi-Formal - May 29, 2011 - organized by Andrea Tian and CeeCee Yao. Open to the public, the Foundation will enjoy soem food, dancing, and watch the Best-of the YouTube videos submitted for the SPIRIT Scholarship competition. The winner will be announced the night of May 29, 2010, at the semi-formal.

Read more about the Foundation at their webpage (click here). The Foundation is open to ideas and volunteering, and/or suggestions, and anything regarding educational and charitable causes.

What can you do to help?
Remembering Robert is a labor of love. You can help in whatever way is best for you. Help spread positive SPIRIT by helping the Foundation and its initiatives. Here are some ways or contact us to talk more:
  • Donate money to directly support the Foundation's charitable gifts.
  • Attend a SPIRIT event - such as a concert, a race, the semi-formal.