*Author’s Note* — This story mentions suicide. If you or anybody you know is in crisis and struggling, please call, text or chat online using the 988 Lifeline.
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV) – Over a year after her death, a Kaukauna family is honoring their beloved 13-year-old in a unique way — a scholarship funded through sales of an upcoming book.
Finnley Kramer was just 13 years old when she died in April 2024 by suicide. Finnley’s parents, Betsy and Josh, spoke with Local 5 on Thursday, talking about just how she lit up every room she walked into.
Photo courtesy of The Kramer Family
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“She was so special, so unique, loved her family and friends,” Betsy and Josh Kramer said. “She lit up the room whenever she walked in.”
Finnley loved animals as well. As her aunt and USA TODAY best-selling author, Valerie Clarizio, said, she would save every dog from a shelter and own a zoo if she could. But Finnley also loved dance; it was her passion.
“Ever since she was a little girl, it was movement, dancing from one side of the house to the other side of the house,” Betsy and Josh said. “She had her special little cowboy boots, and she loved to dance.”
To honor Finnley’s passion for dance, 100% of the net proceeds from e-book preorders, early paperback sales and release month sales from Clarizio’s newest book, TRAIL TO TROUBLE, will go to creating a new scholarship fund to support young people who share Finnley’s love of dancing.
Photo courtesy of The Kramer Family
Clarizio said she had the book ready for release, specifically on October 1, Finnley’s birthday, and creating a scholarship fund was another way to keep Finnley’s memory alive and reach out.
“I thought just to kick off this perpetual scholarship fund, I could see the scholarship fund from the proceeds of this book,” Clarizio said. “It’s important to keep her memory alive and hope that we can reach someone so they don’t end up in the same position.”
The scholarship presentation is designed not only to highlight Finnley’s love of dancing, but also to remind everybody of the importance of mental health, raising awareness about suicide and the consequences of bullying.
Betsy and Josh concurred, saying that as a family, it was important to keep scholarships going, as they had donated some last year to the Kaukauna Dance Team, with the Electric City Dancers included this year around as well.
“To honor Finnley, and keep in mind suicide and bullying awareness,” Betsy and Josh said. “It’s very important to our whole family that we keep this going to honor Fin.”
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The goal is to reach $15,000, which will provide an annual scholarship of roughly $500, to help honor and cherish Finnley’s life.
Click here to visit Clarizio’s website and to learn more about her book.
