Ingrid Hopes gofundme for Michael Kelly Jr

Hi there, World.

My name is Darren, and I’m reaching out on behalf of my dear friend and coworker, Ingrid Hopes, who is enduring the unimaginable. Her 15-year-old son, Michael Kelly Jr., tragically lost his life early Sunday morning while at the home of a close friend. The details surrounding his passing remain unclear, but the heartbreak is immediate and profound.

Michael was Ingrid’s only son—her middle child—and a bright light in so many lives. He was intelligent, full of life, and always knew how to make people laugh. He dreamed of becoming a barber. Everyone who met him remembers his playful spirit. He was a loving grandson, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. The reality that he will not return home is a heavy truth that so many of us are struggling to accept.

Ingrid and her family are now left not only with unbearable grief but also the unexpected burden of funeral costs. Like many hardworking parents, she did not have life insurance for her child. We—her Statler Hotel family—along with loved ones and friends, want to come together to help lighten that load.

If you feel moved to support, contribute, or share, please know that every bit of love, every prayer, and every dollar makes a difference as we try to honor Michael’s beautiful life and give him the farewell he so deeply deserves.

Thank you for your support.