In Honor: Perry J. Cohen Foundation

JUPITER, FL – June 29, 2017 – July 24th will mark the second year of a tragic episode that hasn’t been forgotten by the Jupiter community. On that fateful day, local teens Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen headed out into the Atlantic Ocean by boat as a storm approached in the distance, and shortly after, they were never seen or heard from again.

Following their disappearance, a massive search ensued by sea and land. Volunteers from Jupiter and surrounding areas arrived in droves and teamed up with Coast Guard crews to conduct a search that spanned over a 50,000-nautical-mile radius of ocean and beaches. That action immortalized the good will of the people of Jupiter: The unity of a community exemplified at the height of adversity.

And, sure enough, from this darkness came light in the way of charitable endeavors. Two organizations were formed: The AustinBlu Foundation and the Perry J. Cohen Foundation. Each organization has their own mission and agenda, but at the heart of both is honoring Austin and Perry through various efforts that consist of community involvement and fundraising.

PERRY J. COHEN FOUNDATION

The Perry J. Cohen Foundation (PJCF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3), which was established by Perry’s mother, Pamela Cohen, and his stepfather, Nicholas Korniloff. The Foundation carries on Perry’s legacy by focusing on the advancement of certain components that he was passionate about: The arts, environmental, marine and wildlife education and preservation, teenage entrepreneurship, and boating safety education.

The PJCF is spearheading fundraising efforts in raising $400K to create the Perry J. Cohen Wetlands Laboratory at Jupiter Community High School. The created wetlands habitat and working laboratory is backed by a certified Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) curriculum with instruction inside and outside the classroom under the name of the existing 13-year program at the school entitled the Jupiter Environmental and Research Field Studies Academy (JERFSA). The PCJF will transform and develop the existing storm water retention pond into a created wetlands habitat by introducing the plant material most recognized as the five eco-zones of Florida. The created wetlands laboratory will be a template for outdoor classrooms within school campuses all over the Palm Beach County area. The outdoor classroom will be utilized by students throughout the entire school for research, scientific analysis, wetlands monitoring, and biology.

The PJCF currently provides Environmental Studies summer camp scholarships to underprivileged children, and in their first year and a half of operation, the foundation has funded and educated over 700 individuals through “About Boating Safety” classes through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

“To the many supporters of the Perry J. Cohen Foundation—Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Since our beloved son, Perry, disappeared, the love and support from our local community as well as those from around the world, our family, and friends has sustained us. Our unfaltering belief that Perry was always meant to change the world inspired us to build a legacy that helps create positive change and advance the issues he cared so deeply about. This is truly Perry’s gift to us all”, says Pamela Cohen.

LIGHT THE COAST

Last year, during the first anniversary of their disappearance, thousands of members of the community gathered by land and boat at the Jupiter Inlet for the “Light the Coast for Austin and Perry” event, a candlelight vigil that was actually held at locations all over the world to remember the two teens. Community members lit candles, said their prayers, filled the firmament with sky lanterns, and paid their individual respects to Austin and Perry and their families. As the date nears this year, it’s all but probable the community will gather to once again commemorate two of their own.

For more information or to donate, please visit www.pjcf.org