
Eli Brookens Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Our Sweet Eli
Our son, brother, friend, classmate, teammate, Eli Brookens, lost his life far too soon. Please join us in building a legacy for him in the Waterbury community he called home.
Eli was a passionate soul, with a creative force and will to live his life to the fullest. He loved his family, his friends, the great outdoors, and particularly the summits of the Green Mountains. And he loved the soccer pitch, where his inspired play and will was recognized by all. He was a mentor to his sister and brothers, and countless young soccer players who looked up to him.
Celebrating Eli with a Memorial Fund
The family and friends of Eli invite you to contribute to building a lasting legacy to honor his memory and to breathe life and love into the people and places that inspired him. Donations to the Eli remembrance fund will be used to fund scholarships for middle schoolers to participate in a ski and ride program, a program that meant so much to Eli. In Eli’s words, “When I’m not skiing, I feel like a part of me is missing.” The ski program at Crossett Brook Middle School made skiing a possibility for Eli. He felt a kind of peace on the ski mountain that he didn’t find elsewhere. We can think of no better way to honor Eli than to offer that to other children who might not get to experience it otherwise.
We will also build a remembrance bench and plant a tree in Eli’s memory at the Dac Rowe fields, overlooking the pitches and ball fields that filled Eli with joy.
Celebrating Eli this Summer
A summer celebration of Eli’s life will be held July 27 at Dac Rowe fields in Waterbury. We will plant a tree for him, dedicate the bench, and play some ball!
Eli on the Pitch

Eli Soaring in the Mountains

The Specifics
First, thank you to all who have donated! It is overwhelming and so fantastic! The gofundme team has asked that I add some information for clarity. So here goes:
I'm Eli's mom, Colleen Ovelman. I live in the community of Waterbury, Vermont. I'm collecting the funds which are being deposited directly into a special account I have created for the Eli Brookens Memorial Fund. We will be working in conjunction with the Harwood Boosters to distribute the funds, so I can send donors a 501(c)3 number for taxable donations.
The funds will be spent on the bench which is being made by local wood worker, Alex McKenzie. Alex has graciously donated his time, so we are largely just using funds for materials. We are also planting a tree in Eli's honor, though some volunteers have also stepped up to cover those costs! We will be holding a celebration to dedicate the bench and tree and to celebrate Eli on July 27. Funds may cover some of these costs. Mostly, the funds will be going to the creation of the Eli Brookens scholarship fund for the Crossett Brook Middle School ski and ride program. The money will be available to cover the cost of the program, rental equipment, other necessary ski/snowboard gear (helmets/goggles), and potentially lessons for students who apply. This will give students who might not otherwise have the opportunity the chance to take the slopes that Eli loved so very much.
Organizer
Colleen Ovelman
Organizer
Waterbury, VT