What is the Chad Young Memorial Fund?

The Chad Young Memorial Fund was created to honor a man who held a special place in Jereko Gear.

Chad Young was Jereko Gear’s very first customer when we opened the doors to our retail store in 2025, and he quickly became much more than a customer. Chad was a loving father, a good friend, and someone who could often be found stopping into the store simply to talk about the outdoors. His genuine love for the outdoors, his easy friendship, and his support of our small business made a lasting impression on us. Chad was also a veteran and an avid cyclist who spent countless hours riding along the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail and through Letchworth State Park—two places that meant a great deal to him and reflected his passion for being outside. The Chad Young Memorial Fund is our way of keeping that spirit alive.

Donations to the fund are divided equally between two causes that represent important parts of Chad’s life: supporting our nation’s veterans through the Wounded Warrior Project, and supporting the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail to help preserve, maintain, and improve the natural spaces and trails that Chad loved.

When you contribute to the Chad Young Memorial Fund, you are helping honor Chad’s memory by supporting veterans who have served our country and helping protect and improve the outdoor places where people can ride, explore, and heal. Chad was there for us from the very beginning. This fund is our way of making sure his impact continues long after that first visit through the doors of Jereko Gear.

Remembering Chad. Supporting veterans. Protecting the outdoors.