The Karyn Heckman Family Foundation was created by Evan Heckman and Mark Heckman, son and husband of the late Karyn C. Heckman. Karyn lived an 

extraordinary life, guided by her faith in God, her love for children, and her insatiable appetite for helping others. Karyn passed away in November of 2105 after a courageous seven year battle against thyroid cancer.
The "Foundation's" mission is to support educational and experiential non-profit organizations to expand personal growth and leadership skills of underprivileged youth worldwide. During Karyn's life, she developed very strong relationships with two such organizations.

Culver Academies, an outstanding organization of learning and leadership located in north central Indiana, and American Friends of St. Jude.  St. Jude School, located in Arusha, Tanzania Africa provides unique educational opportunities to local youth that is designed to build both spiritual and intellectual strength to empower Tanzanian families.

Culver and the School of St. Jude serve as a template for the good works and the types of non-profit organizations the "Foundation" will pursue as the mission expands and the opportunities for giving present themselves.