The Nick Patterson Memorial Fund

Rochester native Nick Patterson served our country as well as our community.

Nick Patterson was a sports enthusiast, which is why his memorial scholarship makes it possible for boys in kindergarten through eighth grade to attend sports camps.

What do a U.S. Army infantry man, a sports scholarship and the Fulton County Community Foundation have in common? The answer? The Nick Patterson Memorial Fund.

Sgt. Nick Patterson was serving in 73rd Airborne Battalion and participating in combat operations in Iraq when he passed away in September of 2007. Nick's service record included two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a deployment in support of Hurricane Katrina.

During his high school years, Nick was very involved in the basketball and baseball programs at Rochester High School. Nick's love of sports was well known by those who knew and loved him.

The Nick Patterson Memorial Fund was established with the help of the Fulton County Community Foundation in January of 2008 by his wife, Jayme. The fund was created to provide scholarships for sports camps for boys in grades K-8 in the Rochester and Tippecanoe Valley School systems.

Jayme said, "I wanted to give back to the community. Everyone was so loving and supportive after Nick died. I am truly amazed by the level of respect and the continued outpouring of care and concern that has been shown to myself and Reilley. This was one of the best ways I could think of that would honor Nick and allow his legacy to live on."

Because of Nick's involvement and love of sports, Jayme felt it would be appropriate to create a memorial fund that would create opportunities for boys to learn these sports.

"My ultimate goal is to allow kids, who might not otherwise have the ability, to participate in sports. Being active is important to their physical and mental development. You never know, maybe this will really make a difference in someone's life," Jayme explained.

"Nick may not be able to be a coach one day or watch our son on the basketball court, but because of his sacrifice, he will be able to ensure that there will be a lot of 'Nick Pattersons' shooting hoops and playing second base and just loving to participate in sports," Jayme said.

Helping to improve our communities and the lives of its citizens is the primary goal of the Community Foundation. Funds such as the Nick Patterson Memorial Fund do just that. If you would like to learn more about this, or any of the funds within the Fulton County Community Foundation, contact us today and find out how we can help you to improve life in Fulton County.