Let's Honor the Promise of Zach Babat to his Brother Alex

Help Make Zach’s Wish for Alex to Have His Own Home a Reality

We are Cynthia and Richard Babat, reaching out with love and hope to ask for your support in making a life-changing dream come true for our son, Alex. This campaign is also about honoring a beautiful promise made by our late son, Zach—a promise he could not fulfill in life, but one we hope to carry out with your help.

A Dream Within Reach

Recently, Alex was selected through a housing lottery to purchase a tiny home in his hometown of Missoula, Montana—a dream he and Zach held for many years. Thanks to a small mortgage and a generous no-interest loan from the Human Resource Council of Montana, Alex is now on the verge of realizing this dream.

However, owning a home comes with expenses that Alex, on his limited income, is uncertain he can manage. That’s where this GoFundMe campaign will help.

Our Goal: $50,000 to Secure Alex’s Future

These funds will go toward moving costs, home furnishings, maintenance, and the long-term expenses of owning and caring for a home. Every dollar raised will help ensure Alex’s future is secure—and fulfill Zach’s deeply held promise.

Alex’s Journey: Courage Through Adversity

Alex’s life began with immense medical challenges. Born with a non-functioning gastrointestinal system, he spent his first months in intensive care at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. He survived against the odds, but the complications were lifelong.

Throughout his childhood, Alex faced multiple diagnoses—ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and severe rheumatoid arthritis—which led to chronic pain, partial homeschooling, and social isolation. Despite all of this, he never gave up.

With family support and Zach always by his side, Alex graduated high school through a special education program and went on to earn a college degree from the University of Montana. Now 40 years old, Alex shares a rental apartment and receives Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), supplementing it with part-time work as a computer technician. Because of SSDI income limits, he must budget carefully and cannot significantly increase his earnings.

A Brother’s Promise: "You Will Always Have a Home"

Zach Babat—fishing guide, wildlife artist, naturalist, explorer, and bush pilot—was more than a brother to Alex. To view Zach's amazing art, go to https://www.zachbabatwildlifeartist.com/. He was Alex's hero. Tragically, Zach died in a small plane crash in Alaska in 2016. Before his death, Zach made a heartfelt promise to his family: that he would always be there for Alex and would one day help him buy a home of his own.

Though Zach couldn’t fulfill that promise himself, we believe we can achieve the dream—with your help. This campaign is our way of honoring Zach’s wish and giving Alex the safe, stable, and long-term independent life he deserves.

How You Can Help

We’re asking friends, family, and our extended community to help us raise $50,000 to support Alex’s transition to homeownership and ensure long-term security. Every contribution—large or small—brings us closer to that goal.

If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this campaign with others who might be able to help.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping make Zach’s promise a reality and for supporting Alex’s journey toward independence.

With love and gratitude,

Cynthia & Richard Babat