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First draft for Phil & Mary Beth · highlighted words are things we still need from you ·A: A seat by the fireB: Keeping the fire goingC: Help a student
Mason's FoundationBlue Collar Memorial

“College isn't for everyone.”

We saved you a seat by the fire.

Mason's buddies spent weekends upstate around a campfire, telling stories. This is that fire. Pull up a chair, get to know Mason, and help the next Huntington student find their trade.

DonateMeet Mason

Lived to the fullest

Meet Mason.

Growing up: Such a loveable kid.
Growing upSuch a loveable kid.
The little explorer: Always looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks.
The little explorerAlways looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks.
Scouts: Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Police Explorer. He joined everything with his friends.
ScoutsCub Scout, Boy Scout, Police Explorer. He joined everything with his friends.
The Hares Drill Team: Years with the East Farmingdale Hares, side by side with his friends.
The Hares Drill TeamYears with the East Farmingdale Hares, side by side with his friends.
Huntington Manor FD: A Huntington Manor junior, then a six-year firefighter.
Huntington Manor FDA Huntington Manor junior, then a six-year firefighter.
The Jeep: He started an Instagram club for his Jeep Liberty. Members from all over the world.
The JeepHe started an Instagram club for his Jeep Liberty. Members from all over the world.
His girl: Every Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He called this truck his girl.
His girlEvery Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He called this truck his girl.
The truck pulls, Riverhead: He started out with his Jeep, then brought his truck. Every pull, a few more friends.
The truck pulls, RiverheadHe started out with his Jeep, then brought his truck. Every pull, a few more friends.
Local 638, April 2025: Three years in the apprenticeship. He was so proud of himself.
Local 638, April 2025Three years in the apprenticeship. He was so proud of himself.
Every Christmas, thenEvery Christmas, now
Every ChristmasThe Santa photo with Gunnar and Colton, every Christmas from 2009 to 2023.
Out East: He hated the city and loved the outdoors. Out East is where he belonged.
Out EastHe hated the city and loved the outdoors. Out East is where he belonged.
Upstate: Weekends down by the river, at the county fair, around the campfire.
UpstateWeekends down by the river, at the county fair, around the campfire.
His people: So many stories of how we met, each one more amazing than the next.
His peopleSo many stories of how we met, each one more amazing than the next.
Read Mason's story →

Lived to the fullest

Meet Mason.

Growing up: Such a loveable kid.
Growing upSuch a loveable kid.
The little explorer: Always looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks.
The little explorerAlways looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks.
Scouts: Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Police Explorer. He joined everything with his friends.
ScoutsCub Scout, Boy Scout, Police Explorer. He joined everything with his friends.
The Hares Drill Team: Years with the East Farmingdale Hares, side by side with his friends.
The Hares Drill TeamYears with the East Farmingdale Hares, side by side with his friends.
Huntington Manor FD: A Huntington Manor junior, then a six-year firefighter.
Huntington Manor FDA Huntington Manor junior, then a six-year firefighter.
The Jeep: He started an Instagram club for his Jeep Liberty. Members from all over the world.
The JeepHe started an Instagram club for his Jeep Liberty. Members from all over the world.
His girl: Every Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He called this truck his girl.
His girlEvery Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He called this truck his girl.
The truck pulls, Riverhead: He started out with his Jeep, then brought his truck. Every pull, a few more friends.
The truck pulls, RiverheadHe started out with his Jeep, then brought his truck. Every pull, a few more friends.
Local 638, April 2025: Three years in the apprenticeship. He was so proud of himself.
Local 638, April 2025Three years in the apprenticeship. He was so proud of himself.
Every Christmas, thenEvery Christmas, now
Every ChristmasThe Santa photo with Gunnar and Colton, every Christmas from 2009 to 2023.
Out East: He hated the city and loved the outdoors. Out East is where he belonged.
Out EastHe hated the city and loved the outdoors. Out East is where he belonged.
Upstate: Weekends down by the river, at the county fair, around the campfire.
UpstateWeekends down by the river, at the county fair, around the campfire.
His people: So many stories of how we met, each one more amazing than the next.
His peopleSo many stories of how we met, each one more amazing than the next.
Read Mason's story →

Stories around the fire

Everybody has a story about Mason.

The firehouse, Local 638, the truck pulls, Walt Whitman, upstate. Pull up a chair and read a few. A fire only keeps going if someone adds a log, so add yours.

Huntington Manor FD
We adored him, and we miss him dearly. A great firefighter, a great person, a great teammate.
Rob Burnham
His dad
He even made friends with the kids that used to give him a hard time. As he grew up, many of those friends grew with him.
Phil Kraese

 

His brother
Too many good memories with him. He was the best.
Gunnar Kraese
His mom
He was all about community and helping others. People we had never met have told us how his kindness touched them.
Mary Beth Kraese

 

Huntington Manor FD
We adored him, and we miss him dearly. A great firefighter, a great person, a great teammate.
Rob Burnham
His brother
Too many good memories with him. He was the best.
Gunnar Kraese
His dad
He even made friends with the kids that used to give him a hard time. As he grew up, many of those friends grew with him.
Phil Kraese
His mom
He was all about community and helping others. People we had never met have told us how his kindness touched them.
Mary Beth Kraese
How did you meet Mason?Tell it the way you would around the fire. The family reads every story before it goes up.
“You planted those seeds, Mason. And they’re still growing.”
Mary Beth Kraese, his mom

Mason found his trade.

Six students a year get to find theirs.

Every June, graduates from Huntington and Walt Whitman start in the trades with $500 and a toolbox of their own.

Fill a toolboxSee the scholarship

Six seats every June

Two at Huntington High School, four at Walt Whitman. Tap a seat.

Sabrina's photo, and confirm she was the first scholar in June 2026

Phil and Mary Beth Kraese with Huntington High School senior Ronnie Jarama, Assemblyman Steve Stern and school staff Presidential Scholars nominee

“The future of America isn’t built behind a desk alone.”

Already growing

Ronnie Jarama, Huntington High School

With Assemblyman Steve Stern, the foundation presented the Huntington High School senior with a nomination for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in Career and Technical Education.

OK from Mary Beth to use her line, and from Ronnie’s family to feature him

How it works

  1. 1You give or sponsor.

    Any amount helps. Pick a tool, or put your business behind a student.

  2. 2We fill a student's toolbox.

    $500, plus up to $500 in tools for the trade they chose.

  3. 3A graduate starts their trade.

    Six a year from Huntington and Walt Whitman, every June.

Building the future of the next blue collar generation.

Every Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel.

Be the diesel for the next one.

  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit
  • More than 400 neighbors at our first fundraiser
  • Huntington HS and Walt Whitman HS
  • Every gift is tax deductible
From $25Give a toolGloves, safety glasses, a wrench set. Pick what goes in a student's box.Pick a tool →$500Fill a whole toolboxOne student's full kit for the trade they chose. The gift most people remember giving.Fill one →From $250Sponsor as a businessPut your company behind the next apprentice. Sponsors go on our sponsor wall.Sponsor levels →

Fill this year's toolbox

Every scholar gets up to $500 in tools for their trade. Pick what you want to put in.

Tap the tools. $500 fills one student's toolbox.

Give to the toolboxTool prices: Phil to confirm a real starter kit

Last August

Last August, more than 400 of you showed up for Mason.

Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Six Harbors Brewing Company. What it raised. Thank you to every sponsor, volunteer and friend who came.

See the day →

We'll save you a seat at the next one.

Where do you fit?

There's a seat for everyone.

A studentI want a tradeStudents at Huntington and Walt Whitman heading into a trade: see what the scholarship gives and how to apply.The scholarship →A businessI want to sponsorPut your company behind the next apprentice, from $250.Sponsor levels →A neighborI want to pitch inHelp at an event, spread the word, or talk to a student about your trade.Volunteer →A friend of MasonI knew himAdd your story and your photos to the fire.Add your story →

We saved you a seat.

Keep Mason's story going.

Mason's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your gift is tax deductible, and you get a receipt by email.

DonateAdd your story to the fire