Cheslie Kryst.Photo: Dia Dipasupil/WireImage
Kryst’s family has released a statement ahead of what would have been theExtracorrespondent’s 31st birthday on Thursday.
“On April 28, Cheslie would have turned 31 years old,” wrote parents April and David Simpkins. “As that date approaches, we are already experiencing a remarkable outpouring of love and support for our Cheslie, for which we are tremendously grateful.”
“Many have asked how best to honor Cheslie’s memory on her birthday,” they continued. “This is an individual decision, and we would not presume to decide how any fan, friend, or former colleague should remember Cheslie or memorialize her on her upcoming birthday.”
However, they noted there are only four “approved organizations that are set up to receive charitable donations in her honor.”
Those organizations are Dress For Success – TheCheslie Kryst Women’s Advancement Fund; Wake Forest University School of Law – The Cheslie C. Kryst Social Justice Scholarship; University of South Carolina – The Cheslie C. Kryst Scholarship Fund; and The Dean’s List – The Cheslie C. Kryst Woman In Media Award.
Her parents said no other groups are currently authorized to use Kryst’s name and likeness for advertising or trade, warning against those “seeking to profit improperly from our daughter’s memory.”
RELATED VIDEO: Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst Dies at 30: ‘She Laughed and She Shined,’ Says Family
Additionally, Kryst’s family will hold a vigil and balloon release on their daughter’s birthday, to which the public is invited.
The celebration will take place on Thursday at South Carolina’s Fort Mill High School football stadium from 7-8 p.m.
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“Cheslie throughout her life sowed many seeds through her work, her philanthropy, her advocacy, and most importantly, her genuine care for others,” her mother said during Kryst’s Februarymemorial service, reportedThe Charlotte Observer.
Cheslie Kryst.John Lamparski/Getty Images
“Organizations that have said Cheslie gave so much to us, it’s now time to continue her legacy and give to others on her behalf,” family spokesperson LaToya Evans said at the service, per NBC affiliateWCNC.
In a previous statement released after her daughter’s death, April shared that while her daughter’s “life on this earth was short,” it was “filled with many beautiful memories.“
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source: people.com
