-------UPDATE-------

Read latest update! 

https://gofund.me/10e140f00

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Throughout the 1960's and 1970s, dozens — maybe hundreds — of boys were abused on North Fox Island in Lake Michigan by wealthy men under the guise of a summer camp. Their stories were buried. Their names were redacted. To this day, there is no memorial, no acknowledgement for the crimes committed there. It’s time to validate their pain. 

A powerful pedophile ring—led by Francis Shelden, Gerald Richards, Dyer Grossman, and others—operated under the guise of a nonprofit camp for troubled boys. They promised safety and retreat. Instead, they delivered exploitation, abuse, and silence.

Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of young boys were brought there. Many were abused. Many never spoke of it. Their stories were redacted, buried, or erased when Freedom of Information Act files went missing or came back heavily censored. To this day, the crimes on North Fox Island have never been given national mainstream attention.

I know a memorial may feel painful for some survivors. Some may fear it memorializes the abuse itself. I understand that. But this is an extreme circumstance: the scale of what happened, the lack of justice, and the way it was allowed to be forgotten make silence unacceptable. Many survivors may finally feel validated—seen, not erased.

That’s why I am proposing a small memorial on North Fox Island: a bench and a plaque inscribed with these words:

"In Memory of the children who suffered under Brother Paul's Children Mission during the 1960's and 1970's. 
We honor their courage, mourn their suffering, and vow to protect all children. 
Never Forgotten • Never Again" 

The text of which, formed directly by a survivor. This is a way of saying: We see you. We feel the silence you were forced to carry. You are not forgotten. It is also a way of telling active pedophiles: We will see you too. You will be discovered.

Please sign and help us bring this memorial to life. Together we can ensure that what happened on North Fox Island is not buried in silence again.

North Fox Island is maintained by Michigan's Department of Natural Resources. There is a grass airstrip on the island that is still publically owned, operated, and maintained. I have submitted a proposal to the DNR about this and have offered to raise the funds myself. Still, they rejected my proposal citing a mischaracterization as their reasoning (I proposed a publicly sanctioned memorial bench---they labelled the proposal a "private memorial." I have appealed their decision. After requesting an update, they informed me they will not be changing their stance. 

North Fox Island has a public camping ground. There are existing picnic benches there, near the still maintained airstrip. The DNR Wildlife Division also recently partnered with Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County to install public benches at Portage Marsh. They are utilizing a mischaracterization to shut this effort down. 

Do not let these survivors be failed by institutions again.