Jamie's story...

Jamie was the bedrock of an idea that gave birth to the organization we know today as the HOLA Foundation. It was in the early days of 2004, when Jamie approached the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-health Honor Society to glean interest in an opportunity to take part in a life changing trip, as he described. The idea was simple; he wanted to take volunteers to a small community in rural Nicaragua to help the poor by providing them with medical care. He continued to explain that as much of an impact we could have on the community - that the cultural emersion and bearing witness to another way of life would promise to inspire us to bring a different approach to our impending careers in healthcare.

Jamie was right. By about 150 HOLA volunteers and counting.

Jamie embodied love and selflessness as he influenced what has evolved as a multifaceted healthcare organization. He achieved more in his short life than some are ever able to achieve.

The bottom line is this - without Jamie, HOLA would not exist. Many of us would not be who we are today, and many of those who will one day join our mission will not be the same as well. I can safely say on behalf of all those who are a part of the Foundation, Jamie changed our lives forever, and therefore, who we are as individuals, leaders, and healthcare professionals. He was a selfless soul who dedicated his much too short of a life to helping those most in need. Most of all, Jamie was passionate about animals. He was building a foundation for a future as a veterinarian. He master planned our entire veterinarian mission in the HOLA Foundation and is responsible for bringing clarity to our mission, the peoples health and livelihood is supported by the health of their livestock.

As Jamie often expressed, his heart was always with the people of Nicaragua. His passion and dedication was unsurpassed, and I know the many people throughout Nicaragua he aided during his many travels there will sorely miss him. Not only was he able to influence action of those of us in the U.S., but he helped empower the people of Nicaragua to be a solution to the cause we served. From his original travels to Nicaragua with Students for 60,000 to the HOLA Foundation, to his individually-driven trips, Jamie was able to build a legacy of love and service over more than a decade.

Jamie Byers' Scholarship Memorial Fund...

To honor Jamie's legacy, the dedication and passion he brought to the HOLA Foundation, and all the positive impacts he had on the lives of his friends, family, and all those he served in Nicaragua over the years, the HOLA Foundation has established the Jamie Byers' Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Money raised will be used to fund tuition scholarships for financially disadvantage veterinary students in Nicaragua who have demonstrated a commitment to community service, as Jamie spent the better part of his life doing.

All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your support and for helping us continually honor Jamie's memory by carrying out his selfless generosity.