Medard Kowalski’s peers described him as “everyone’s best friend”, especially the group of about 35 teens who met informally after school in the Camp Hill home of Saundra Colello. There was no formal program at Colello’s house: just a hot meal, a sense of family, shooting hoops, faith and connection. Others began to notice this connection: unlikely groups of teens were eating lunch together, bullying was confronted with love, and the circle of friendship grew. Then, tragedy struck. Medard, an avid outdoorsman, lost his life in a canoeing accident. His body would not be recovered for three agonizing months. During those dark months, there was a light — it was the community magnetized by the search for Medard. It is that connection, that light, which has become Medard’s lasting legacy. After the tragedy, the Kowalski’s and Saundra Colello made it their mission to formalize that extended family model to act as a light for others and provide a web of supports to teens, enabling them to better cope with transitions and stressors during this critical life stage. Since 2008, Medard’s House has offered such support to teens wherever they could meet….homes, parks, and rented community rooms. Medard’s House was formally created in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) organization. In 2017, we moved into our permanent home, a donated church building, where our program continues to serve the community.