Zachary’s House
Reflection written by Zachary’s parents, Jan and Scott Osborn.
Zachary’s House, completed in 2015, was originally used as a dormitory for college students returning home. Today, it has been repurposed to support our expanding programs and will serve as part of the new Life Skills Center, creating space for vocational and technical training.
The Life Skills Center will introduce hands-on programs in sewing, cooking, batik making, soapmaking, and technology—equipping students with essential skills that complement their classroom education and enhance their future employment opportunities.
Losing Zachary to Kawasaki’s Disease 17 years ago was a tragedy for our family. In small ways, we honor him and the life he led every single day. It is at milestone times, however, that we think not of the little boy Zachary was when he died, but of the man that he would have become throughout his life. It’s that Zachary we want to commemorate, and are excited to tell you about our plans.
Touch A Life has also touched our lives, and we have decided to endow a house for formerly trafficked children in Zachary’s memory. The total cost of naming the house is $50,000. We have planted the seed money to get the project started – and now we’d like to ask for your help. Zachary’s House will be home to 16 children. It will be a place that the children will call home as they are educated and provided with opportunities for a healthy and enriched life. The house will be safe and secure with accommodations for two houseparents. We can’t wait to see the home that will be built and filled with beautiful, happy children, just how Zachary would have wanted it.
We can’t wait for this place to become a home for the children in Touch A Life’s care. We couldn’t think of a better way to honor Zachary’s life than by supporting these children, all of whom have amazing spirits that remind us of his. Zachary’s beautiful legacy will live on in this house, and we can’t wait to meet the children who will call it home.
– Jan and Scott Osborn
