Benefit Honors 'Light And Love' Of Scout Killed By Drunk Driver

RIVERHEAD, NY — Thursday marks three years since Boy Scout Andrew McMorris, 12, died after a drunk driver plowed into his troop while they were out on a hike in Manorville.

To honor their son's life, Alisa and John McMorris created the Andrew McMorris Foundation to keep their son's legacy alive and celebrate his beautiful life. On Thursday, the 3rd Annual "Light It Up Red" gala will benefit the Andrew McMorris Foundation; the event, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will be held at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead and honor Donna Lillie and Jim Grimaldi.

"When you lose a child you are forever broken and you try to find a way to fill the void to honor your baby," Alisa and John said. "And the reality is nothing will ever fill the space of Andrew’s absence but we can fill the world around us with his light and love by parenting his legacy. And that is what we are doing with the foundation."

So far, the Andrew McMorris Foundation has awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships and grants in the first two-and-a-half years. "We launched this mission on March 30, 2019 — what would have been Andrew's 13th birthday — just six months after he was taken from us," John and Alisa said.

When asked how they found the fortitude to move forward on such a painful day, Andrew's parents said: "The strength comes from the family, friends, Scouts and community members that help us to carry Andrew. This week friends of Andrew’s put new red ribbons at the high school." Andrew would be 15 and a sophomore in high school, his parents said.

The McMorris family continues in their mission, working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to pass the legislation in the House and Senate — the RIDE and HALT Acts — that have the potential to end drunk driving, they said.

To learn more about the RIDE and HALT acts, click here.

To learn more about Andrew McMorris and efforts to stop drunk and impaired driving, click here.

On October 8, his parents will "walk like MADD" in honor of their boy.

Lillie, vice-president of communications and a member of the executive committee for the Suffolk County Council of Boy Scouts of America, as well as a senior vice-president at Dime Community Bank and Jim Grimaldi, camp director and program director for the Suffolk County Council of Boy Scouts of America, were instrumental in raising funds to construct the McMorris Lodge, in memory of Andrew, at the Baiting Hollow Scout Camp.

On September 30, 2018, Andrew and his Boy Scout Troop 161 were struck by a drunk driver while hiking; five boys were initially injured, while Andrew incurred massive trauma and passed away, his family said.

Every year on September 30, the Foundation hosts its annual gala to raise funds for its mission and to celebrate Andrew’s life. Andrew loved aviation and theater, art, music and Michael Jackson, travel and so much more — his future was a bright canvas waiting to be painted with memories.

This year’s event at the Suffolk Theater will feature live performances by NBC’s The Voice Season 19 winner Carter Rubin and other special guests, catering by Chef Jennie Werts of Greenport’s Ellen’s on Front, music by Decadia, and raffle prizes.

Individuals are invited to contribute to the success of the event by making a donation here.

Lillie and Grimaldi, the honorees, helped to organize the Andrew McMorris Memorial Walkathon in 2020 to raise funds for the McMorris Lodge; the event raised more $133,000 to finish the construction.

"Donna and Jim continue to work tirelessly with the various fundraisers for the Boy Scouts and in the operation of the Baiting Hollow Scout Camp. The Boy Scouts of Suffolk County are truly lucky to have such giving and caring people who do so much to ensure that the scouts have only best experiences in scouting," the Mcmorris' said. "During the most difficult times following Andrew’s tragic passing, both Donna and Jim supported the McMorris family as well as the scouts in Troop 161. They have indeed helped us all put our 'grief into action' by doing for others and the Boy Scouts of America while keeping the spirit of Andrew alive."

To learn more about the Andrew McMorris Foundation and its mission,click here.