WWRD? (The Friday Ficks S5 E29)

WWRD? (The Friday Ficks S5 E29)

He was only 19 when he died.

Ryan. Ryan T. Lee.

A gifted collegiate golfer. A fierce sports fan with a photographic memory for stats. A young man with a style all his own and a spirit that lifted everyone around him - young or old, friend or stranger.

What set Ryan apart, though, wasn’t just his talent or optimism - it was his joy for others’ success. That rare, selfless kind of happiness.

After Ryan’s passing, his parents, Dan and Theresa, and his sister Amanda asked a simple, powerful question: “What would Ryan do?”

The answer became the mission of the Ryan T. Lee Memorial Foundation:

• Create smiles

• Inspire people

• Help others reach their goals and realize their dreams

Just three things. Simple. Profound. Lasting.

There’s something timeless about threes - Newton’s laws, the three-act structure of cinema, Aristotle’s dramatic unities of time, place and action.

And yet, Ryan’s legacy transcends theory - it lives in action.

Since 2011, the Foundation has donated over $750,000, distributed more than 22,000 lbs of food, collected 330+ pints of blood, fulfilled the holiday wishes of 400+ children, and awarded scholarships to over 100+ students.

Ryan believed small acts could make a big difference. He proved it by checking the organ donor box - and today, lives are being lived because of that choice.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing is ever wholly lost. That which is excellent remains forever a part of this universe.”

Ryan remains. In hearts. In impact. In action.

So today, when faced with a choice - to give, to lift, to inspire - ask yourself:

WWRD? What would Ryan do?

Own the day. Own the weekend.

—Carl

Ps. The 2025 Ryan T. Lee Golf Classic and Annual Foundation Dinner is on Friday August 8, 2025 - only three weeks away. If you want to make an impact with a sponsorship or donation, go here: https://ryantleefoundation.org/golf-classic/