If his family has its way, the greatest qualities of Mark Bavis will be honored long after his tragic death in last year’s terror attacks on the World Trade Center.
To insure that, the family has created the Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation, which will provide Massachusetts students with college scholarships. However, this is one foundation that will ask more of its recipients.
“The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation is going to provide grants for students for academic purposes, but on top of that, we are going to ask students to participate in Outward Bound programs and other leadership workshops on our expense,” said Mike Bavis, who is Mark’s twin brother and an assistant coach for the Boston University hockey team. “We are putting a little responsibility back on the students as to say, ‘We’re not just going to help you get through school, but maybe we’re going to ask you to do something that hopefully makes a big difference in your life and hopefully makes a big difference in all our lives.’
“Leadership is at such a premium in our country right now, and if one student came out of an experience like that better prepared to handle a leadership role, that’s the lasting legacy my brother should have, and that’s the legacy he’d want,” Bavis said.
Mark Bavis, a scout for the Los Angeles Kings, was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 175. Both he and his brother Mike played hockey at BU from 1989 to 1993.
Mike Bavis said immediately following the tragedy, it became clear just how much his brother meant to people.
“The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation is something that came out of the days and weeks after Sept. 11,” Mike said. “We got so many letters, and kids drove from the Midwest to be here on the 19th for my brother’s service. Listening to them talk, they said, ‘I talked to your brother last week,’ or ‘I talked to your brother last month.’
“In hockey, we go 100 miles per hour in season, and 85 miles per hour out of season. We just don’t really stop, and the fact that he was taking the time to mentor these kids and really be a sounding board on some critical life decisions for them said a lot as to who he was.”
The foundation has already scored big, raising a healthy sum during a charity event at BU and The New Seabury Golf Club in Falmouth. that brought in some big names.
“We had a two-day event this summer where about 700 people attended an event at Boston University,” Mike Bavis said. “Mayor Menino attended, and Matt Damon came in from LA and spent the night, then went down to the Cape the next day for a golf tournament, which was a tremendous boost for the foundation.
“Throughout those two days, we grossed over $300,00.”
Also joining Menino and Damon at BU were many former BU hockey players, including NHL players Tony Amonte and Mike Grier.
Donations for the foundation can be sent to:
The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation, PO Box 15001, Boston, MA 02215.
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