Ric Gonzalez Memorial Foundation

The Ric Gonzalez Memorial Foundation was created in 2004 to honor the life and times of Fredrick Julian Gonzalez.  Frederick or Ric, as he was known to his friends and family was born in Detroit Michigan on June 28, 1949.  Ric was raised in Harper Woods Michigan and attended the Grosse Pointe Schools where he became a star athlete and Honor student.  Lettering multiple years in Football and Track and carrying a 4.0 gpa Ric planned on continuing his Football career through college.  However on December 30, 1967, that dream was cut short when he was involved in a head on collision while returning from a night of skiing.  Ric was paralyzed from the chest down and sustained numerous other injuries in the accident.  Over the next eight months through three hospitals Ric began his slow recovery. While he would remain paralyzed the rest of his life his achievements were exemplary.

Ric became an accomplished artist, guitar player and entrepreneur.  He graduated from Princeton University in 1972 with a degree in Architecture and Urban Planning.  After a few years spent wandering the country painting he began work at Smith, Henchman and Grilles Architecture Firm in Detroit.  Working for the structured corporation never really suited Ric or his incredible lust for life so in 1975 he joined his father, Henry Gonzalez, to found Gonzalez Design Engineering Company.  Over the next 29 years, Ric would lead the growth and diversification of the family owned company building it into a $100 million a year organization with over 700 employees. 

In 1980, Ric married his lovely wife, Ricca.  They were very happily married for 23 years.

For a man confined to a wheelchair that might seem to be enough but Ric was never satisfied with just enough.  Ric was involved in dozens of charitable causes, took time from his schedule to meet and talk with troubled youth in the Southwest Detroit community where his father grew up, and sat on the Board of Directors of various organizations dedicated to furthering higher education, minority business development and stemming gang violence.  His ever-present smile would light up a room as he rolled in and his love of humanity could be felt by everyone he ever met.

While Ric was confined to his wheelchair for 36 years he was never defined by it.  He brought to this world more than he ever took back and in so doing showed the world what it means to be a Human Being.

It is in the spirit of giving back which Ric embodied that The Ric Gonzalez Memorial Foundation was organized.  The Foundation will solicit donations through direct solicitation and fundraising events.  The goal of the Foundation is to build an equity fund which will be invested in a portfolio of high quality stocks and bonds through a recognized brokerage house.  The investment criteria are to maintain the equity and generate income.  The income will then be used to provide scholarships to needy Hispanic Youth from Southeast Michigan hoping to attend a College or University of their choice.

All directors and staff of the Foundation are volunteers.  Only routine expenses such as printing costs, mailing and costs associated with fundraising events will be drawn out of the equity fund.  The Foundation has been granted 501(c)(3) status by the IRS and as such all donations are fully tax deductible to the extent of the law.