Friends and family of a slain Dublin paramedic have launched a scholarship program aimed at giving inner city teens a unique summer experience.
The Quinn Boyer Memorial Campership Fund helps kids attend Camp CYO, a youth camp nestled in the redwoods of Sonoma County. Quinn Boyer was shot and killed during an attempted carjacking in Oakland last year.
His wife, Liz Boyer, said her husband was once a troubled Oakland teen until he attended Camp CYO.
"It was a place he was able to finally find his center," Liz Boyer said. "It's so simple -- come to the woods, get out of your environment, see something different and learn something new. That is a powerful thing."
Quinn Boyer spent two years at the camp -- first while in high school and later as a camp counselor.
"You're thrust into a positive direction in your life," Liz Boyer said. "It really has that potential to be transformational and it definitely was for Quinn."
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Liz Boyer said when her husband left the camp and his life took off by heading straight to college, the fire academy, EMT school and then paramedic school.
San Lorenzo-resident Charlie Davis is now attending the camp thanks to the Quinn's Kids scholarship. The 15-year-old said the camp has given him a new sense of freedom.
"Here you can be yourself, completely yourself," he said. "No judgment. Nobody's angry or nothing like that. No criticism."
The experience is special for Davis because the day after Quinn Boyer was killed, the high school student nearly lost his life when he was robbed and shot. The suspects are allegedly the same group of teens who prosecutors believe killed Quinn Boyer.
"We want to see him thrive and be happy because that's another opportunity to see something good come out of something that was completely horrible," Liz Boyer said of Davis.
Davis said he is grateful that Camp CYO is part of his life and now plans on becoming a counselor, just like Quinn Boyer.
"If he can hear me I want to let him know I love him for this," Davis said.
Click here for more information on The Quinn Boyer Memorial Campership Fund.
