The Reflective Journey Foundation began with two people who share the same heart for helping others. Since the day we met, our lives blended naturally. We discovered quickly that we shared the same beliefs, the same passions, and the same drive to lift people who are struggling. When the idea of creating a foundation was first shared, the answer was an immediate yes from both of us.

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Our backgrounds shaped the mission. Michael survived the Boston Marathon bombing and was honored by the Boston Celtics as a Hero Among Us for stepping in to help during the aftermath. He spent more than fifteen years working with students with social, emotional, and behavioral needs before transitioning into law enforcement, where he now serves as the School Resource Officer at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School. His work in education, crisis response, and community support has always centered on helping families through difficult moments.

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Casey earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and worked in special education before moving into healthcare. She now serves as the Community Sales and Marketing Director for Hands for Hearts Hospice, where she supports families caring for loved ones in life’s final stages.  

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Together, we are parents to three incredible children. Makena is sixteen. Mia is six. Chase is eight and has autism. Casey is his fiercest advocate, and loving him came naturally to all of us. Supporting a child with disabilities has given us firsthand understanding of the challenges families face, and it is one of the biggest reasons the Foundation includes disability support as part of its mission.

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For years we helped quietly on our own. A family facing a tragic event. A child with a disability who needed support. A veteran working to find steady ground. We often talked about how we could do more and reach more people, and how we could turn our shared passion into a lifelong commitment.

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As someone officially listed by the Boston Athletic Association as injured in the 2013 attacks, Michael is presented with a Boston Marathon bib. The BAA describes the bib as one that Michael may use himself or present to someone else to run in his honor. Michael and the Reflective Journey Foundation have chosen to use the opportunity to raise awareness and support meaningful causes.

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This year, the Reflective Journey Foundation is presenting that bib to Brian Scott. Brian is a teacher at Essex Tech and close friend, who is running in honor of both Michael and his father, Dave Scott, as he battles stage 4 cancer.

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The Reflective Journey Foundation is built on lived experience, family, service, and the belief that people deserve help during their hardest moments. We are committed to this work, and there is no stopping us.