Help Build an Enduring Legacy for Jackson
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Jackson Edward-Todd, a 16-year-old sophomore at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas was struck and killed by a truck Feb. 26, 2021 as he walked through a crosswalk near his home.
Jackson’s family is launching this campaign to keep his dreams alive and amplify his passion for building friendships and communities through shared love of electronic music and the culture of online gaming.
Our Audacious Goal
After funding a memorial at Westlake High School, we will use 100% of the proceeds raised in this campaign to establish a scholarship or other educational program to help kids on the autism spectrum pursue careers in the online gaming industry, including electronic music production and scoring.
This campaign is now our mission, our way of working through inconsolable pain and loss toward a higher purpose. Inspired by the impact that Jackson’s quiet example has had on so many people, we are forming a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to help kids on the autism spectrum achieve their dreams.
A Fearless, Authentic Way in the World
Here’s how Jackson described himself in his YouTube channel bio :
“I am a producer, FNaF fan, and a human. The past is the past, focus on what you can do in the present. Always try to improve yourself and be ready to take criticism.”
From a very early age, Jackson was fiercely independent, with an uncanny ability to stay present and in the moment. He didn’t dwell on the past nor fret about the future. He was candid about what he liked and what he didn’t, and quietly self-confident in accomplishing anything he set his mind to.
Conversation and social interaction can be difficult for kids on the autism spectrum, but Jackson never felt self-conscious about his differences. In fact, he leaned into them. He took pride in his t-shirt collection of favorite EDM musicians and internet memes. His distinctive hair style--a grown-out faux-hawk dyed crimson red--declared to everyone who encountered him that he was a kid who knew exactly who he was, and who wasn’t shy about expressing it.
In online gaming community platforms like Discord and Twitch, Jackson was well-liked and popular--funny, witty, sardonic, and mischievous, as well as friendly and welcoming.
Anyone IRL--in real life--who showed interest in Jackson’s immense and rich online life was immediately a friend, and Jackson was a generous guide, companion, and mentor. This year his teachers even set up a Discord server especially for Jackson where they could chat with him where he was most comfortable and communicative.
When Jackson was interested in something, his insatiable curiosity and focus manifested in unexpected and remarkable ways:
* Jackson taught himself to type URLs and navigate a web browser before he could even read. He wanted to access his favorite YouTube videos on his own.
* Jackson set up his own YouTube channel when he was only 7 years old so he could share recordings of his Spore, Minecraft, and Geometry Dash gameplay.
* Around age 10, Jackson taught himself FL Studio, a professional-level digital audio workstation, so he could create his own electronic dance music--better known as EDM. As he became a more accomplished producer, he regularly posted and promoted his new EPs and albums on his YouTube channel.
As Jackson became more skilled and confident in his music production, he began dreaming of a career as a producer and DJ. So he set out to teach himself how to promote and market his albums and individual songs--and to make money, of course. He joined DistroKid, an online service that enables musicians to easily share, promote, and market their music through online stores and streaming services.
As the artist known as BeastKiller--his player name in the online game World of Warcraft--Jackson distributed and sold his music through his accounts on:
* YouTube
* iTunes
* Spotify
* SoundCloud
* Newgrounds
When Jackson was 15, he set up his own server on Discord--a popular platform for creating and nurturing online communities. Within a few months Jackson’s server had more than 1,000 members.
BeastKiller: Jackson’s Pursuit of the Most Epic EDM Drops
It probably started with the online game Geometry Dash. The combination of head-spinningly fast gameplay and the in-game electronic music captured Jackson’s imagination. It’s there, at the intersection of electronic music and online gaming, that Jackson started forging his identity and planning his future.
For Jackson, the drop--a crescendo followed by an abrupt silence--was EVERYTHING. Every time he encountered a new “epic” or “brutal” drop, he immediately shared it with family and friends--along with his expert commentary and analysis.
Jackson’s musical pantheon included:
* Xtrullor (one of Jackson's first favorite artists, and one of his role models)
* Spag Heddy
*The Living Tombstone
* Groundbreaking
* Knife Party
* Dex Arson
* Excision
* Rukkus
* NIGHTKilla
* EH!DE
Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNaF)
A “jumpscare” video game called Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNaF) debuted in 2014 when Jackson was 9 years old, and he quickly became a superfan. So much so that he insisted that friends and family call him “Freddy”. His 10th birthday party in January 2015 was FNAF-themed, including a cake featuring a group “photo” of all the game characters. But FNaF was still relatively new, so there wasn’t much merch available for gifting. It didn’t take long, though, for the game to become a global pop culture phenomenon. By Jackson’s next birthday, plush toy versions of the Freddy and Foxy characters were guests of honor at his party.
Jackson avidly played (and replayed) all the subsequent games in the series, mastering every level and showing off his prowess to friends, family, and teachers. He also bought the official books based on the series, and decorated his room with FNaF character posters.
Jackson combined his passions for FNaF and EDM by producing his own remixes of popular FNAF fan music, including the viral hit “I Can’t Fix You” by The Living Tombstone .
Feb. 25, 2021, the day before Jackson died, was extremely happy for him because the first video trailer for a new FNaF game dropped that day on YouTube. He excitedly shared the news and watched the video all day with teachers, friends, and family. Adding to his excitement was renewed buzz about a FNaF movie coming out in 2021, and he talked about being in the audience its opening night in theaters. It was a really great day.
Honoring a Gentle Soul with a Kind and Loving Heart
Our unique and remarkable boy is gone, and that loss is a desolation. Building an enduring legacy for Jackson’s aspirations will help us heal and keep him present in our lives.
We are deeply grateful for the generous care and support we’ve received from neighbors and the wider Eanes Independent School District community in the wake of this tragedy. Your outpouring of kindness has provided tremendous comfort and healing as we work through our profound heartbreak.
Jackson’s family is launching this campaign to keep his dreams alive and amplify his passion for building friendships and communities through shared love of electronic music and the culture of online gaming.
Our Audacious Goal
After funding a memorial at Westlake High School, we will use 100% of the proceeds raised in this campaign to establish a scholarship or other educational program to help kids on the autism spectrum pursue careers in the online gaming industry, including electronic music production and scoring.
This campaign is now our mission, our way of working through inconsolable pain and loss toward a higher purpose. Inspired by the impact that Jackson’s quiet example has had on so many people, we are forming a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to help kids on the autism spectrum achieve their dreams.
A Fearless, Authentic Way in the World
Here’s how Jackson described himself in his YouTube channel bio :
“I am a producer, FNaF fan, and a human. The past is the past, focus on what you can do in the present. Always try to improve yourself and be ready to take criticism.”
From a very early age, Jackson was fiercely independent, with an uncanny ability to stay present and in the moment. He didn’t dwell on the past nor fret about the future. He was candid about what he liked and what he didn’t, and quietly self-confident in accomplishing anything he set his mind to.
Conversation and social interaction can be difficult for kids on the autism spectrum, but Jackson never felt self-conscious about his differences. In fact, he leaned into them. He took pride in his t-shirt collection of favorite EDM musicians and internet memes. His distinctive hair style--a grown-out faux-hawk dyed crimson red--declared to everyone who encountered him that he was a kid who knew exactly who he was, and who wasn’t shy about expressing it.
In online gaming community platforms like Discord and Twitch, Jackson was well-liked and popular--funny, witty, sardonic, and mischievous, as well as friendly and welcoming.
Anyone IRL--in real life--who showed interest in Jackson’s immense and rich online life was immediately a friend, and Jackson was a generous guide, companion, and mentor. This year his teachers even set up a Discord server especially for Jackson where they could chat with him where he was most comfortable and communicative.
When Jackson was interested in something, his insatiable curiosity and focus manifested in unexpected and remarkable ways:
* Jackson taught himself to type URLs and navigate a web browser before he could even read. He wanted to access his favorite YouTube videos on his own.
* Jackson set up his own YouTube channel when he was only 7 years old so he could share recordings of his Spore, Minecraft, and Geometry Dash gameplay.
* Around age 10, Jackson taught himself FL Studio, a professional-level digital audio workstation, so he could create his own electronic dance music--better known as EDM. As he became a more accomplished producer, he regularly posted and promoted his new EPs and albums on his YouTube channel.
As Jackson became more skilled and confident in his music production, he began dreaming of a career as a producer and DJ. So he set out to teach himself how to promote and market his albums and individual songs--and to make money, of course. He joined DistroKid, an online service that enables musicians to easily share, promote, and market their music through online stores and streaming services.
As the artist known as BeastKiller--his player name in the online game World of Warcraft--Jackson distributed and sold his music through his accounts on:
* YouTube
* iTunes
* Spotify
* SoundCloud
* Newgrounds
When Jackson was 15, he set up his own server on Discord--a popular platform for creating and nurturing online communities. Within a few months Jackson’s server had more than 1,000 members.
BeastKiller: Jackson’s Pursuit of the Most Epic EDM Drops
It probably started with the online game Geometry Dash. The combination of head-spinningly fast gameplay and the in-game electronic music captured Jackson’s imagination. It’s there, at the intersection of electronic music and online gaming, that Jackson started forging his identity and planning his future.
For Jackson, the drop--a crescendo followed by an abrupt silence--was EVERYTHING. Every time he encountered a new “epic” or “brutal” drop, he immediately shared it with family and friends--along with his expert commentary and analysis.
Jackson’s musical pantheon included:
* Xtrullor (one of Jackson's first favorite artists, and one of his role models)
* Spag Heddy
*The Living Tombstone
* Groundbreaking
* Knife Party
* Dex Arson
* Excision
* Rukkus
* NIGHTKilla
* EH!DE
Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNaF)
A “jumpscare” video game called Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNaF) debuted in 2014 when Jackson was 9 years old, and he quickly became a superfan. So much so that he insisted that friends and family call him “Freddy”. His 10th birthday party in January 2015 was FNAF-themed, including a cake featuring a group “photo” of all the game characters. But FNaF was still relatively new, so there wasn’t much merch available for gifting. It didn’t take long, though, for the game to become a global pop culture phenomenon. By Jackson’s next birthday, plush toy versions of the Freddy and Foxy characters were guests of honor at his party.
Jackson avidly played (and replayed) all the subsequent games in the series, mastering every level and showing off his prowess to friends, family, and teachers. He also bought the official books based on the series, and decorated his room with FNaF character posters.
Jackson combined his passions for FNaF and EDM by producing his own remixes of popular FNAF fan music, including the viral hit “I Can’t Fix You” by The Living Tombstone .
Feb. 25, 2021, the day before Jackson died, was extremely happy for him because the first video trailer for a new FNaF game dropped that day on YouTube. He excitedly shared the news and watched the video all day with teachers, friends, and family. Adding to his excitement was renewed buzz about a FNaF movie coming out in 2021, and he talked about being in the audience its opening night in theaters. It was a really great day.
Honoring a Gentle Soul with a Kind and Loving Heart
Our unique and remarkable boy is gone, and that loss is a desolation. Building an enduring legacy for Jackson’s aspirations will help us heal and keep him present in our lives.
We are deeply grateful for the generous care and support we’ve received from neighbors and the wider Eanes Independent School District community in the wake of this tragedy. Your outpouring of kindness has provided tremendous comfort and healing as we work through our profound heartbreak.
Organizer
Jay Pinkert
Organizer
Austin, TX