10/09/2025
Dear Friends of Drennen’s Dreams and the O'Melia Family,
On behalf of the Drennen's Dreams Foundation Board, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity, support, and belief in our mission over the years. We want to share that after thoughtful reflection, discussion and discernment, we have decided to close this chapter of our healing and sunset Drennen’s Dreams Foundation. While this has not been an easy decision, we are excited by all that we have accomplished over the years and we firmly believe that Drennen’s legacy has been honored by all of the hard work and generous support of our thoughtful community of supporters. We see this as a time of gratitude and joy. A time to celebrate.
Because we’re going out from a position of strength and amazing impact, we reflect with pride and gratitude on what we’ve accomplished together. Your support has been instrumental in helping us honor Drennen’s memory and make a meaningful impact in water safety across Colorado and beyond.
Thanks to you, we’ve spent the past 13 years educating lifeguards and pool administrators, installing life jacket loaner stations at some of Colorado’s most popular reservoirs, funding AED machines at community pools, and raising public awareness around drowning prevention at a national level; so much so that Bill will continue to share Drennen’s story and promote advocacy whenever he has the chance. Through national partnerships—including with the American Red Cross—we’ve promoted a culture of vigilance and safety that has saved lives and changed behaviors. With the remaining balance of funds, we are gifting like-minded organizations (please visit our website for those specific names) who will continue to promote water safety and actively carry our advocacy mission forward at a local and national level.
While Drennen's Dreams Foundation is concluding its operations, the ripple effect of your contributions will continue. You have helped build a safer, more informed community, and that legacy will live on in every child who swims safely, every parent who learns the importance of water awareness, and every lifeguard empowered to protect others.
We are profoundly grateful for the trust you placed in us and for walking beside us in this journey. Thank you for being part of Drennen’s Dreams Foundation and more importantly, a part of our family these past years as all continue to heal from the loss of our beautiful boy.
With warmest appreciation,
Bill and Melissa O’Melia, and the Board of Drennen’s Dreams Foundation
drennensdreams.org
Drennen's Dreams
