Charity Spotlight
by Holly Stupak Photos courtesy of the Wzorek family
M
atthew Wzorek had a smile that could light up a room, even earning him the nickname “Smiley.” His parents Rebecca and Barry Wzorek said that he brought joy and happiness to everyone around him, and he wanted to make the world a better place. Matthew was just seven years old when he passed away suddenly in 2020, changing the Wzorek’s lives forever. Looking for a way to keep his bright light shining, they founded Matthew’s Moonlight Foundation. “We want Matthew’s life to be the inspiration, not his passing,” said Rebecca.
Matthew’s Field at Marple Township Little League
Matthew was a second-grader at Worrall Elementary school who loved baseball, flag football, legos and traveling with his parents and big brother Jacob. Whether at school, the playground or a local sports field, Matthew was known for his genuine kindness and friendliness. “Matthew’s personality was always to be kind,” his mom said. “He loved helping his younger cousins, making someone in his class feel comfortable, even chatting up a stranger. That was just his nature.”
When Matthew passed away, the Marple Newtown community rallied around Barry, Rebecca and Jacob, even creating a GoFundMe page for the family. Inspired by Mathew, and through the generosity and support of the Marple community, the Wzoreks wanted to do something to pay it forward. To help other grieving families and families experiencing hardship, they donated the money from the GoFundMe campaign to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “We wanted to give other families who’ve lost a child or who had a sick child the chance to visit Matthew’s favorite place: Disney World,” said Rebecca. This past year the Wzoreks were able to expand the reach of Matthew’s light by creating the Matthew’s Moonlight Foundation, whose mission is to honor Matthew through acts of kindness. They chose the name because of the profound meaning of the word moonlight. “No matter how dark the night is, the light of the moon will always shine to make the night brighter,” said Rebecca. “It’s a reminder that there is always hope. Through the foundation, we can use Matthew’s beautiful light to help ease the burden that many families in the Delaware Valley are dealing with,” she added.
First annual NSPL softball tournament for Matthew’s Moonlight Foundation
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