ABOUT MICHAEL
Before he became the inspiration behind a foundation, Michael Hurley was simply an extraordinary human being.
If you ask anyone who knew Michael what they remember most, you'll almost always hear the same things: his smile, his laugh, and his heart.
Michael had the kind of smile that could light up a room and a laugh that was impossible not to join in on. He found joy in life's simplest moments. Whether someone told a terrible joke, someone was teasing him, or friends were sharing stories, Michael was usually the one laughing the loudest. His smile wasn't just part of who he was—it was how he made everyone around him feel comfortable, welcomed, and loved.
His kindness knew no limits. Michael would give you the shirt off his back, his last dollar, a ride when you needed one, or simply his time if you needed someone to listen. He never hesitated to help someone, whether they were family, a lifelong friend, or someone he had just met. He had an enormous heart and a genuine desire to make other people's lives a little brighter.
At the center of Michael's world was his family. Family wasn't just important to him—it was everything. Some of his happiest moments were the simplest ones: spending long days together at the beach, celebrating birthdays and holidays, cheering on Philadelphia sports teams, concerts, or simply sitting around laughing until everyone's stomach hurt. Michael treasured time with the people he loved and believed that life's greatest gifts weren't things—they were the memories created with family and friends.
Michael measured his life by the people around him, not the things he owned. He believed the best days were those spent making memories with the people he loved.
Michael embraced life. He loved music and concerts, weekends at the beach, playing in his kickball league, and competing with his friends in fantasy football. And if you knew Michael, you knew there was no missing his passion for Philadelphia sports. He was a proud and loyal fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, and 76ers, and there was nothing he enjoyed more than gathering with family and friends to cheer on his teams.
Perhaps what made Michael most special was his ability to bring people together. He had an incredible gift for building friendships and making everyone feel like they belonged. His closest group of friends began in elementary school through swim team and continued to grow over the years as he introduced new people from college and different stages of life. Michael was the glue that held everyone together. He believed there was always room for one more person at the table, one more friend in the group, and one more reason to make memories together.
On July 6, 2024, our family lost Michael to suicide.
The pain of losing him is something we will carry forever, but we refused to let his story end there.
Instead, we chose to continue the way Michael lived—by showing up for others.
Our hope is that every conversation started, every person reached, and every life impacted becomes part of Michael's legacy.
Because while we lost Michael far too soon, we will never stop sharing the light he brought into this world.
We believe the greatest way to honor Michael is to continue doing what he did so naturally every day: bringing people together, leading with kindness, loving without hesitation, and reminding others that they matter.