2017 Reat Griffin Underwood

REAT GRIFFIN UNDERWOOD

Tissue Donor

Age 14 ~ Stilwell, KS

Donated on 4/14/2014

at Overland Park Regional Hospital

When Reat Griffin Lloyd Underwood was a precocious two-year-old, he could recite Eric Carle books. Even then, he loved to sing and perform. His theatre career began at the age four. Reat auditioned for and received roles in more than 10 stage productions during his lifetime. As a high school freshman, he was accepted to the Kansas City Starlight Theatre Program, “Starlight Stars.” He also offered his time as a volunteer in the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection KIDS-COR program, especially in the baby/toddler room. On his way to an audition for KC SuperStar at the Jewish Community Center, Reat and his grandfather were tragically ambushed as victims of a hate crime. Although Reat lost his life in the ambulance, he was still able to donate the gift of life to others and inspire the formation of SevenDays to help heal through love.

Reat’s Story

Reat Griffin Lloyd Underwood was born on May 21, 1999 in Norman, Oklahoma to parents Mindy Corporon and Gary Underwood. For the first ten months of his life, he was his grandfather’s, Dr. William L Corporon (Bill), first priority. Reat moved with Mindy to Overland Park, Kansas in 2000. As an infant he met Len Losen, who would become his father figure, mentor, and biggest fan. Reat was a precocious toddler who could recite Eric Carle books at the age of two. Even then, he loved to sing and perform.

Reat dedicated his life to Christ as a camper at Kanakuk the summer of 2011, and offered his time as a volunteer in the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection KIDS-COR program, especially in the baby/toddler room. His energy and enthusiasm for others ever apparent, Reat was always ready to greet friends and teachers at Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kansas with a quick and sincere smile or, more often, a hug. Reat also loved the outdoors and enjoyed many hours hunting and fishing with family or camping with family and fellow Boy Scouts.

Reat’s love of theater came naturally. When he would stay with his grandparents, Dr. Bill and Melinda Corporon (“Popeye” and “YeaYea”), he attended many theatrical rehearsals and productions of Duncan Little Theatre in Duncan, Oklahoma. Building on this early exposure Reat, began his theatre career at age four. While Reat worked to perfect his vocal and acting skills, his talent came to be noticed outside the family, too. Reat auditioned for and received roles in more than 10 stage productions during his lifetime. As a high school freshman, he was accepted to the Kansas City Starlight Theatre Program, “Starlight Stars.” He was also selected for a part in The Theatre in the Park’s 2014 production of Tom Sawyer. Although Reat played baseball, basketball and football, he loved to SING!

Reat’s successes are a testament not only to his personal drive but are also due in large part to the love, kindness and support provided by his parents and grandparents. He never lacked for the transportation to or from lessons, audtions or performances. Often, it was his Popeye who volunteered to deliver Reat to his destination. On April 13th, 2014, Popeye had driven Reat to the Jewish Community Center in Leawood, Kansas to audition for KC Superstar.

Reat did not make the April 13th audition. In the parking lot as they exited Popeye’s vehicle, Reat and Popeye were ambushed and became the first two victims of a hate crime intended to harm members of the Kansas City Jewish Community.

Although, Reat lost his heart beat and his life in the ambulance on the way to the emergency room, he was still able to donate life to others. On his 14th birthday, when Reat obtained his drivers’ permit he also listed himself as an organ donor. We never imagined that within one year we would be following his wishes but were glad to take part in an immediate act of kindness from his tragic death. Knowing that Reat’s death was able to help others gave us a peace and comfort that was needed, at such a significant time of grief.

~~~

“Your Father is in Heaven, go find Reat” were the words I heard on April 13, 2014 at 1:10 pm after seeing my father’s injured and lifeless body in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Center. These powerful words carry me every moment of every day.

On the evening of April 12^th we hosted dinner at my home for my parents, Melinda and Bill Corporon. As we gathered at the table, Len, Reat, Lukas, Mom, Dad and I talked vividly about the short anniversary trip Len and I had just taken, the Walt Disney trip Mom and Dad were planning for their 50^th anniversary and the summer full of hopes and dreams for our boys, especially for Reat. I outlined the specifics for my Dad and Reat regarding their obligation the next day. Dad was to drive Reat to his KC SuperStar audition. KC SuperStar is an American Idol type event hosted by the Jewish Community Center as a large fundraiser. We have been financial supporters of this event since its inception 4 years earlier. This was the first year Reat qualified to try out.

Reat had recently received notice that he was chosen to be in Tom Sawyer with Theatre in the Park and was accepted as a Starlight Star for the 2014-2015 season. Each of these represented another opportunity for him to perform and enhance his skills. He was a rising star in debate, singing, performing and life in general.

We were living life. Len and Lukas left for Lukas’ lacrosse game at noon on Sunday, April 13, 2014. I listened to Reat sing his two audition songs one last time, dressed in his brand new suit with his fedora and amazing dimples! My Dad arrived to pick up his charge and we chatted about the new pool in the back yard. As the water filled the pool for the first time, I kissed Reat good bye, kissed his cheek, said “good luck and I love you”. I hugged my Dad hello and I departed the house with a quick, “see ya later.” Reat responded with an “I love you, too”. The last words I would ever hear from him.

As I exited my car for the lacrosse game I saw parents walking my way. The game had been canceled due to lightening in the area. With a quick hello and goodbye I departed Len and Lukas and drove to the Jewish Community Center knowing I had enough time to be with Reat for his audition.

I glanced at my clock in the car rounding the corner of the parking lot, 1:08. I thought that I may have beaten them to the theatre. Rounding the next turn I saw my Dad’s truck with both doors open but not my Dad. As I drove closer, I saw my Dad’s body on the ground near his truck. Jumping out of my barely stopped car I screamed “what happened!, what happened!”. The words came to me…”Your Father is in Heaven, go find Reat”. I know that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit grabbed me at that moment and held on tightly. I moved myself behind the truck and to the other side where I found Reat being helped by two men. They looked at me in disbelief and then another man was behind me, hugging me from behind, pushing me lower to the ground but yet holding me up. I saw my angel, Reat, unconscious but evidently still breathing. I wasn’t allowed to hold him, touch him or stay with him. We didn’t know if the gunman was still in the area and I was moved away about 10 yards, still in viewing distance of both of my true loves.

Reat was declared dead at 2:58 pm on April 13, 2014. His heart stopped in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. They could not resuscitate him. My father and oldest son had been murdered by a man professing hate toward Jews with gun shots to the head.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” I didn’t know this verse by heart but my soul knew this verse. The faith I had in Christ came bubbling up to a boiling point. Although I was in complete disbelief of what I had witnessed and how our lives were suddenly and tragically altered, I had feelings that I was being held up and given an inner strength.

Once at my mother’s home, people started to arrive. The looks on their faces told me that this was real. This was real and it was bad. Someone told me about a student vigil being held that evening. I had to be there. I was pushed to be there by what was holding me up and helping me breathe. God wanted me to tell these people that He didn’t kill them. Not only did God not kill them, He was within me, holding me, helping me cry, heal and know that evil would not overcome us. Good would prevail. Romans12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” I donned my father’s Oklahoma sweatshirt and my mother’s tennis shoes for comfort and warmth. Friends drove me to the vigil, which presented my next message from God. This is when I realized messages were coming to me clearly. The vigil was held at a local Episcopal Church. Reat was baptized in an Episcopal church when we lived in Oklahoma with my parents.

As we arrived I was shocked to see how full it was with people of all ages. After hearing the pastors speak and try to offer comfort, I knew I needed to speak. When I was allowed to address the audience some people knew me and others didn’t. The message I delivered wasn’t from me, it was through me. I have since watched it again to verify what I said. My goal was to thank them for being there for offering support to us at such an early stage. I also needed to tell them that God didn’t kill the three gunned down. Indeed, God was with us and with all those mourning. My Dad, Reat and Mrs. LaManno were living life and would live life again because through Jesus Christ and His resurrection, we have been given eternal life. All of these specific words didn’t come out of my mouth but I was able to say that Dad and Reat were in Heaven.

Thus started the process of spreading the message that having faith can save you. God holds us, he doesn’t hurt us.

In late April 2014, we began the process of opening a foundation. Initially, we opened the Reat Griffin Underwood Memorial Foundation (a donor advised fund through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation) and then we opened the Faith Always Wins Foundation (a 501c-3 entity). www.faithalwayswins.org

In June 2014, we were introduced to an idea of a song writing competition to honor those killed in the shooting. However, I had envisioned a large number of people walking in the same colored shirt with a message that good overcomes evil. My mother envisioned us creating a week of kindness through which we could remember our loved ones. Our Faith Always Wins foundation formed a committee and put all of these ideas under one name. We created SevenDays: Make a Ripple, Change the World!

Our event begins and ends with a song writing competition for youth ages 14- 21. The week of SevenDays is filled with a speaker series, acts of kindness, and brings the community together with a Peace Walk. Each of the SevenDays was given a name and therefore a theme. “Love”, “Others”, “Discover”, “Connect”, “Go”, “You” and “Onward” were the words chosen for our healing event. The speaker series started with a presentation from the Kansas City Interfaith Council. We learned from 5 faiths (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism) about LOVE in their faith on the opening day, “LOVE”. On day two, “DISCOVER”, we heard from an 89 year old Holocaust survivor, Sonia Warshawski. She shared her story, her strength, faith and love of humankind. On our “OTHERS” day, we listened to stories illustrating how faith can promote strength and survival. Our speakers were Jacqueline Murekatete, a Rwandan Genocide survivor and human rights activist and Tyrone Flowers, who was paralyzed after being shot by a high school classmate. Mr. Flowers has since graduated college and law school and is now a local philanthropist helping inner city kids despite his own handicap. All of these speakers were meant to encourage, inspire and provide faith to our audience.

Every day, during the SevenDays event, we witnessed acts of kindness all over the community! Many area school districts promoted and encouraged involvement from students, faculty and staff. Businesses, churches, parishes and synagogues participated by supporting congregation and employee involvement in theme based activities. Our seventh day, “ONWARD” brought together 3,300 caring individuals walking in peace and solidarity from the Jewish Community Center to the Church of the Resurrection.

We walked from the Jewish Community Center to the Church of the Resurrection to show that faiths can be and are intertwined with one another in the community where they live and breathe. After the Peace Walk, we honored 14 local charities at our celebration and heard performances of the three finalists in the song writing competition. The winning song, Free Bird, by Michaelah Burns is outstanding. The senior pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Adam Hamilton, led us in a candle lighting ceremony, visualizing for the audience the effect that ONE RIPPLE, one act of kindness, can have on a community, a region and the world.

Our short term goal for SevenDays: Make a Ripple, Change the World is to hold this event again from April 12 – 18, 2016, in our metropolitan area to keep the ripple of kindness, religious understanding and faith moving onward. We intend to invite guests from Sandy Hook, CT, Charleston SC, Roseburg, OR (home of Umpqua Community College) to come heal with us.

Our long-term goal is to promote SevenDays beyond our community to these and other communities.

The evil that touched our lives was a tragic murder of 3 innocent, amazing people. This evil was fueled by hate, ignorance and a racist agenda. Those who have experienced evil in their lives should experience the healing we have. We can help them heal through “love”, “discover”, “others”, “connect”, “go”, “you” and “onward”…with a healthy dose of faith!

I am often asked “Did you know your faith was this strong?” My answer is “No, I did not.” My faith was born from the message of the Apostles Creed. My heart and soul believe and are counting on eternal life with God and Jesus Christ in Heaven. I also did not understand evil to the extent I do now. This tragedy, our foundation principles and SevenDays have spawned a passion in me to spread the word of Jesus and faith in our living God. It is through them that I survive each day.

-Mindy Corporon