About Us
The Crazy Good Foundation was incorporated in 2019 as a volunteer-run nonprofit Foundation by a brother and sister, Kristian and Anna, who lost their mother during childhood. Kristian and Anna are deeply committed to helping others through the difficult experience of losing a mother as a child by offering support services at free or reduced fee amounts.
Our Mission is to provide support services and essential resources to children who have lost their mothers due to death.
Mission Statement
The Crazy Good Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization whose mission is to provide support services and essential resources to children who have lost their mothers due to death. Support services may include free or reduced cost counseling for motherless children and the surviving parent or guardian; online access to information and resources, support groups, and community networks; reduced fee legal consultation; and mini-grants which will be used to access essential resources and/or services that ensure the well-being, stability, and development of motherless children.
Who We Are
My sister, Anna, and I were very young when my Mother passed away, but our Dad experienced the entire tragic unfolding of events that have ultimately led to the inception of this Foundation. We cannot thank him for the strength he exhibited as a father all these years and wonder what may have changed had he not been a bedrock of support, love, and empowerment for us.
Our Mission is vital, and each and everyday, more children experience the death of their mother. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to help them.
– Kristian Merchant, Executive Director
1989
The year our parents married. Our Mom was a Marriage and Family Therapist from Florida, and our Dad was a member at the University of Texas Family Practice Residency Program from upstate New York.
1992
Kristian Leif was born in Houston, Texas.
1996
The year that everything changed.
Trish, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in May and given six months to live. A few short weeks later, Anna Gael was born severely premature.
Trish was able to spend a few weeks with Anna before passing away on August 12th.
2000s
Anna and I grew up and had as close to a normal childhood as possible. Anna took ballet, piano, and figure-skating lessons. She attempted swimming but got demoted from Minnow to Guppy. I learned to play the trumpet, and became interested in athletics, playing hockey, soccer, and running track in school.
My father, Anna, and I moved back to New York to be closer to family. Despite moving to New York, our father still manages to take us to Florida every year to visit our mom’s side of the family- a promise he made to our mother before she died.
2010s
I graduated high school in 2011 and attended the State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo to study Anthropology. I graduated in 2015 and entered non-profit work.
Anna graduated high school in 2014 and attended SUNY Potsdam graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Anthropology and International Studies.
Both of us were deeply inspired by our father to pursue degrees in Anthropology.
Today
Anna and I are both happy, healthy, and have maintained a close relationship through the years. As siblings, we share many similar interests with our mother, including cooking, reading, being outdoors, and traveling. We have been incredibly fortunate enough to travel many parts of the world and have no plans to stop. We both agree that the best part of our day is when we are in the kitchen cooking and trying out new recipes- especially when we get to cook together!
We are now transforming our own painful experience into action to help children who grew up under similar circumstances to us, and we are asking for your help.
![IMG-0059[1]](https://www.crazygoodfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG-00591-e1575909792225.jpg)
![IMG-0081[1]](https://www.crazygoodfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG-00811-e1575909964657.jpg)
![IMG-0312[1]](https://www.crazygoodfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG-03121.jpg)
![IMG-1038[1]](https://www.crazygoodfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IMG-10381.jpg)
Read Our Full Story
Our story is best told by our Dad. Click below to hear more about our experience growing up without our mother. Read NowBoard of Directors
Richard Merchant
Board Chair
Steven H. Turner, Ph.D.
Board Vice Chair
Karin Blackburn
Board Secretary
Suzanne Lister
Board Treasurer
William Balint
Donna McBride
Ashleigh McGowan
Anna Merchant
Colleen Merchant
Sherry Turner
Fiscal Sponsorship
The Crazy Good Foundation, Inc. is a fiscally sponsored program of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation (EIN 16-6016932). Our fiscal sponsor graciously allows us to provide low-cost administration and financial services allowing maximum impact on direct services from your donation.
The Crazy Good Foundation Charitable Fund has been established at The Community Foundation to receive donations of cash and other property designated for support of the Crazy Good Foundation, which is a set of charitable programs and activities with a mission of supporting the needs of motherless children. Gifts to the Crazy Good Foundation are processed by The Community Foundation and are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
News and Updates
Join our mailing list to receive important news, updates, and information.
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
Kristian Merchant
Executive Director