Summary
Every raffle ticket helps provide life-changing support to families facing medical crises. From wheelchair-accessible vans to full-ride scholarships, the You First Foundation turns hardship into hope. Learn how your donation can uplift caregivers like Musa’s mom, Alexandra, and Yousra, and how you could win big in the process.A Story of Hope
Musa is 9 years old. He loves Cocomelon, playing with his twin brother, and just being included. When the other kids play, he likes to be there with them, but spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy made even short outings a complex task. Every trip required planning, lifting, and improvising for his single mother who had to physically lift him into their car if they wanted to go anywhere.
The task of caretaking is something two other people helped by You First know all too well. While her family was still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, Alexandra Baccinelli’s mother needed emergency brain surgery. Afterwards, Alexandra stepped in, handling meals, homework, therapy appointments, and her younger sister’s care, all while navigating high school. Yousra Mohamed did much the same thing. Her mother developed Post-Partum Cardiomyopathy shortly after she was born, and, years later, a brain injury left her unable to walk or speak clearly. As a child, Yousra became her primary caregiver, bathing, feeding, and comforting her while trying to see to her own education and wellbeing.
You First was built for the express purpose of responding to situations like these. It was founded in 2014 to honor the memory of Wendy Kwan, a beloved First Service Credit Union employee who passed away suddenly at the age of 34 after suffering a brain aneurysm. At the time, she was pregnant with her second child, who was safely delivered in an emergency operation.
In the wake of this tragedy, those who knew and loved her came together and--determined to turn their grief into something lasting and meaningful for families facing medical crises--formed a charity to support families like hers as they navigate the traumas of sudden brain injuries and life-altering medical emergencies.
Thanks to donations from people like you, You First was able to give Musa and his mother a wheelchair-accessible van for greater freedom and mobility. Yousra and Alexandra received full scholarships that turned their years of caregiving into stepping stones toward brighter futures.
The You First Founders were not content with simply helping helping these families with financial donations and scholarships. They wanted to fund research and award scholarships to students whose lives have been upended by traumatic brain injuries. Over the past 14 years, the foundation has partnered with organizations like Nexus Health Systems and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to support innovative recovery programs for patients and families facing serious medical challenges.
One grant helped create a sensory room at Nexus Children’s Hospital, an immersive, therapeutic space designed to support children with complex neurological conditions. Most recently, You First has partnered with Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship, a PATH International-accredited nonprofit that provides equine-assisted services for children with significant physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges.
So far, thanks to community support, the You First Foundation has awarded over $352,000 in scholarships.
But none of this happens without you.
How to Make an Impact
Every raffle ticket, every round of golf at the Wendy Kwan Memorial Tournament, every donation—big or small—helps fund life-changing support for families like Wendy’s, families like Musa’s and Alexandra’s and Yousra’s.
Right now, you can make a difference and win big. Enter the 2025 Raffle for a chance to win a Chevy Silverado 1500, a $25,000 VISA® gift card, or one of several cash prizes. Tickets are $35 each or three for $100. Winners will be announced October 6 at the tournament.