Christine Beeman, Co-Founder
I will never be the same person that I was before Will’s diagnosis. I became aware of a world I didn’t know existed before, and I watched my child show resilience, strength, courage, and happiness in the face of a devastating diagnosis. My love for families who have a child with a life threatening illness and my desire to make their lives a little brighter in honor of my sweet boy has replaced any mission I thought I had in life. Just as Will deserved more than he got in this life, so do the children and families we have the privilege of helping.
We wish for Will’s legacy to be one of generosity and good will and want other local families to feel the love and support that we have.
Christine is a high school English teacher in the Churchville-Chili Central School District where she has been since her first year of teaching in 2006.
Clay Beeman, Co-Founder
Clay’s life forever changed after watching Will battle brain cancer. As a father you want to provide for your family and keep your children safe. You are supposed to be the protector. To watch your child suffer and not be able to do anything to fix it forever changes you. This foundation is allowing Will to not be forgotten and for something positive to come out of a heartbreaking and devastating situation. We are so grateful for all of the support we have received on this long journey and hope to make a difference in other families lives in Will’s memory. Will inspires us and is our reason for all that we do in this world.
Clay has been a Local 86 Union electrician since 2005 and works for Billitier Electric. He is also the best father that Luc, WiIl, and Sid could ever ask for.
Cory Lamberton, Treasurer
Cory has been an important part of Clay’s life since they were in kindergarten. Cory loved Will, and Will loved his Uncle Cory. He brings a logical and rational perspective to the foundation and is happy he can assist with the monetary aspect of the foundation.
Cory is a phys ed teacher and athletic director at Rochester Prep Charter School. He and Carrie have two sons, Zachary and Andrew.
Tricia Saltzberg, Secretary
Tricia is Will’s aunt and Christine’s sister. She is proud to be a part of this foundation that will keep Will’s memory alive and shine a light to families going through the unimaginable. Will has inspired so much generosity within friends and family, and she hopes to honor him by doing this work and reaching out to help those in the community that need it. Coming from a time when she felt helpless, this foundation will help channel the unending grief to continuous love.
Tricia and her husband, Jonathan, have two children, Nathan and Julia. She is a high school English teacher and has been at Greece Athena High School since she began teaching in 2004.
Chelsea Carl, Creative Director
Chelsea is a close friend of Christine’s and an honorary aunt to Luc, Will, and Sid. She is proud to be a part of this foundation because she is able to help connect families and friends through acts of love and generosity. She will strive to carry and share the love without end that she feels for Will and for this cause to other families who are in need so they know they are never alone. She will always carry Willie Bee with her and remind the world to bee strong, bee kind and bee courageous.
Chelsea is a history teacher and has been at Churchville-Chili Senior High School since she began teaching in 2006.
Liz Locke, Medical Advisor
Liz is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and has been caring for children and families since 1994. Liz is an employee of Lifetimecare and the University of Rochester. She is a Pediatric Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner with CompassionNet and cares for children in the community with life threatening conditions. She is currently the medical provider for the Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry Unit as well as Pediatric Palliative Care.
Christine and Clay met Liz within the first few days of Will’s diagnosis, and she has been by their side ever since. She was a key player in providing the amazing care that Will received throughout his entire illness and they could not be more grateful to her for the support she has provided and for the work she does on a daily basis to help families who have a child battling a life threatening illness.
Liz has been married to her husband, Brett, for 24 years, and they have two sons, Bobby and Jackson.