Katie Tyson Fund
The Katie Tyson Fund for Youth and Young Adult Ministries exists to kindle the sparks of leadership among Unitarian Universalist youth and young adults. The fund supports scholarships, grants, and youth and young adult projects, conferences, outreach, and more.
Raised in the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria, VA, Katie Tyson had become a rising leader in our movement. An active member in the young adult group at Arlington Street Church in Boston, MA, she had aspirations of becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister. Filled with enthusiasm, passion, and excitement, Katie worked tirelessly to make our world and her community more welcoming and loving.
Sadly, Katie's life ended on a highway in Colorado when she and a friend were returning from General Assembly in Salt Lake City in 2009. She was only 21.
Katie’s parents, Karen and Herb Tyson, had a vision for youth and young adults to be empowered to live out their dreams, to weave our Unitarian Universalist principles into the fabric of their expanding lives, and to encourage others to do the same. With the support of the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, the Joseph Priestley District, and other generous donors, in 2010 Karen and Herb established the Katie Tyson Fund for Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
Your generosity will continue to fuel this vision and will honor Katie Tyson’s legacy of hope and love. This fund supports youth and young adult ministries at the regional and national level, as well as need-based travel subsidies to attend General Assembly and other UU conferences and events, such as Summer Seminary and Thrive Youth.