Foundation Honors Talented Ballerina Shot with Permanent Memorial and Annual Sponsorship for Aspiring Ballerinas
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Updated: 5 days ago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trees for Peace and Seeds of Hope: Foundation Honors Emily Finn with Permanent Memorial and Annual Sponsorship for Aspiring Ballerinas
[Full CBS NEW YORK STORY HERE]
Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (The Uvalde Foundation For Kids) Announces Living Tribute and Annual Student Sponsorship in Honor of Emily Finn, 18
November 29, 2025 —
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (The Uvalde Foundation For Kids) today announced a major expansion to its living tribute honoring the life of Emily Finn, the 18-year-old college freshman and passionate dancer from West Sayville, New York, who was tragically killed in an act of youth gun violence.
In addition to the previously announced permanent memorial, the Foundation confirmed a new, perpetual commitment to nurture the potential of young women in her name. Beginning annually, the Foundation will help financially sponsor one promising girl's continued dance education, establishing a legacy that mirrors Emily's own passion and potential.
DONATE TO THE AMERICAN BALLET STUDIO, BAYPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
🩰 Seeds of Hope: Annual Sponsorship for Young Dancers
In alignment with its mission to turn grief into meaningful action, the Foundation is launching an annual sponsorship program for one young, aspiring dancer.
* The inaugural sponsorship recipient will be a planned scholarship established by the American Ballet Studio in Bayport, New York, where Emily Finn trained and taught for six years.
* The sponsorship will be awarded annually to a student at the studio, ensuring Emily's enduring light continues to inspire the next generation of dancers.
🌲 A Permanent Memorial: A Life to Bloom Anew: The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation will also continue to honor Emily Finn through its national Trees for Peace Youth Gun Violence Memorial initiative.
* A memorial tree will be planted in the Finger Lakes National Forest in New York State.
* This living memorial serves as an eternal tribute to a promising young woman whose future was stolen, and a solemn commitment to raising awareness about youth gun violence, particularly in the context of dating violence.
Statement from Foundation Founder, Daniel Chapin
“Emily Finn was more than a tragic statistic; she was a promise of brilliance, a passionate dancer whose grace on the stage represented the beautiful potential of youth, a potential cut short by a bullet,” said Daniel Chapin, Founder of the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation.
“While the memorial tree marks the profound loss of Emily, the annual sponsorship ensures that her memory does not just endure—it creates new life and opportunity. Dance, at its heart, is an expression of harmony, discipline, and peaceful movement—everything the Foundation believes youth should experience. We are planting 'seeds of hope' where violence has taken root, turning our vow into tangible action that actively supports the dreams of young dancers, starting with her beloved American Ballet Studio.
Her senseless murder is a stark, agonizing reminder of the lethal intersection between youth dating violence and the easy accessibility of firearms. This Christmas, our greatest wish is for peace for all youth, and we must act decisively to disarm the violence threatening their futures and simultaneously nurture their limitless potential.”
The Foundation’s work continues to focus on turning grief into meaningful action and providing permanent recognition for every young life lost to gun violence.
DONATE TO THE AMERICAN BALLET STUDIO, BAYPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Media Contact:
Jennifer West
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation
Uvalde Foundation For Kids
254-499-8027
www.youthpeaceandjusticefoundation.com
Alternative Website: www.theuvaldefoundation.com
