On February 27, 2022, our family was changed in unimaginable ways with the loss of our 15-year-old son and brother, Preston. A bright light in all of our lives, Preston was defined by his motto “never have a bad day.” That motto is his legacy to us.

We see that motto as a challenge, not a given, interpreted through the lens of our own life experiences. “Never have a bad day” now means we work harder to make the next day better for those living in our community. We strive, relentlessly, to make tomorrow better, and we do that through the legacy of The Preston Settles Memorial Fund.

We introduced Bill H.4121 (The Preston Settles “Every Minute Counts” Act) — marshaled by Senator Cindy Creem, Senator Nick Collins, State Representative Marjorie Decker, and State Representative Russell Holmes — and are thrilled to report its passage by the State’s House Legislation on August 1, 2024 — the day before Preston’s birthday. We anxiously await the Senate’s approval and then the Governor and Lt. Governor’s signatures. It will require AEDs at all public sporting events in the Commonwealth with identifiable personnel with training and experience using them.

We will donate $100K each to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and the YMCA to help with their programs and to disburse AEDs to appropriate organizations and teams to be utilized at events and displayed on-site in buildings. Together, we will also work with the American Heart Association to provide training in CPR and the use of the AEDs. The funds will also be used for underserved youth to provide scholarships for enrichment programs to enhance their professional growth and expose them to various sports.

We thank you all for your continued support.

Darryl, Lisa, & Taylor