The Hamric family has been overjoyed and grateful for the support received since the passing of Jesse Hamric in July. 

Jesse’s father, Jay, said he feels his son’s presence around town as the community continues to celebrate his legacy. 

In search of a way to give back and share Jesse’s way of life with the world, the Hamric family in March launched Live Big Love Big: The Jesse Cyrus Hamric Foundation.

The foundation will be used to inspire others to live with the same courage and fearless love that Jesse lived with through acts of service, community outreach and creative expression. 

“We are hoping to use this foundation to continue that experience Jesse had and to give back locally,” Jay said. “To find ways to inspire others to live big, live every moment to the fullest and make deep connections with each other as well as with the community and with the environment.”

Jay said they are still in the early stages of planning community events, but he foresees rail jam sessions in an inclusive environment for expert snowboarders, like Jesse, to beginning skiers. 

Other ideas include inspiring youth to be inclusive and live life to the fullest through guest speakers in the school systems and other venues. 

The first of the events will be a kickoff celebration, “Shine On,” on Wednesday, June 18 at Flying Diamond Ranch, off County Road 131 south of Steamboat Springs. 

“We are celebrating what we want to do with this opportunity,” Hamric explained. 

The event runs 5-10:30 p.m. and will feature a cocktail hour and evening of dinner, dancing and positivity. Jay said there will be a live band and guest speakers sharing their lives and the ways Jesse impacted them. 

Tickets to the celebration cost $150 and can be purchased at Shineon.funraise.org/. 

“This isn’t about raising money, it’s about coming together as a community and loving life,” Jay said. “I look forward, over the next several years, what this is going to grow into and how it will have a positive impact on our community. That is how we are celebrating our boy, is seeing the best in life and coming together as a community.”