About Team Shaan
The Team Shaan Foundation was created in memory of RaShaan Roland Willis who died tragically in the Louisville flood on March 2, 1997. The foundation was formed by RaShaans five best friends: Jeremy Jarvi, Brian Logsdon, Andy Hennessey, Matt Kuerzi and Bart Becker. These five friends wanted to honor Shaan’s memory by giving to the community and helping those less fortunate. Since that day, these friends have kept RaShaan’s memory alive through the work of the Foundation.
Just teenagers at the time of RaShaan’s passing, these determined young men didn’t have the resources to raise money right away, but in time and with faith and determination, they began to raise funds for their first project. That project was a capital campaign to benefit the Center for Women & Families in Louisville. The Center provides a safe haven for abused women and children. The goal was to raise $50,000 to build an adolescent room where kids staying at the Center could relax and play games in a safe and secure environment. When it was all said and done, the team managed to raise $65,000 which was enough to furnish the room for years to come.
The Rashaan Roland Willis, Honorary ’98 Scholarship Fund
- The Team Shaan Foundation has funded a scholarship endowment that is now over $250,000 in value.
- The Rashaan Roland Willis, Honorary ’98 Scholarship Fund is the largest endowment at Saint X honoring a minority, graduate or otherwise.
In 2007, Team Shaan started a new campaign to raise $150,000 for Kosair Children’s Hospital to install Get Well Networks in every room throughout the hospital. This state of the art system will provide customized, improved, and more efficient care. Kids will be able to access articles related to their specific illness, rent movies, play video games, email, participate in web casts and much more. The campaign was completed in 2014. It truly revolutionized the patient’s experience.
The Team Shaan Foundation hosts annual events and accepts donations throughout the year. Bottom line, this foundation is about improving the lives of the youth within our region by giving them the opportunity to succeed.
Team Shaan Foundation Has Supported The Following Organizations
Assumption High School – The Ride to Conquer Cancer
Best Buddies Kentucky
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kentuckiana
Cabbage Patch Settlement House
Catholic Education Foundation
Center for Women & Families
Community Catholic Center
Down Syndrome of Louisville
Father Maloney’s Boys Haven
FEAT of Louisville, Inc.
First Tee of Louisville
John Roth Memorial Fund
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Kentucky Youth Advocates
Kosair Charities
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lincoln Heritage Council
LouCity & Racing Foundation
Louisville Legs
Louisville Urban League
Neighborhood House
Norton Children’s Hospital
Shelby County A&M Association
St. Xavier High School
The de Paul School
The Kids Center
Todd Crawford Foundation
Trinity High School
Visually Impaired Preschool Services
WAVE 3 Pass the Cash
THE BOARD
JEREMY L. JARVI, President, graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2002, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Strategic Communications. Jeremy currently serves as the Executive Director of the LouCity & Racing Foundation. Jeremy is very engaged in the community serving on numerous boards and committees. In addition to his leadership role with the Team Shaan Foundation, he is the past President and current member of the Greater Louisville UK Alumni Board, serves on the National UK Alumni Board, Trinity High School Alumni Board, Capital Access Corporation, and others. Jeremy and his wife Kristen have two sons, Landon and Tate.
BRIAN LOGSDON, Vice President, graduated from Saint Xavier High School in 1998 and went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky in 2002 with a degree in Business Finance. He enjoys sports and loves to play golf in his free time. Brian was blessed to have spent a number of years with Shaan growing up and has many great memories to share. Brian is the GM – Finance & Credit at Brandeis Machinery & Supply Co. Brian and his wife Kelly have three children: Dylan, Brady, & Karoline.
ANDY HENNESSEY, Treasurer, born and raised in Louisville, KY and is a 1998 graduate of Trinity High School, a 2002 graduate of UofL business school and a 2009 graduate of the UofL MBA program. Andy currently is Chief Financial Officer of Premier Packaging, LLC, who manufactures corrugated boxes and distributes all packaging supplies. Andy previously worked in public accounting as well as the financial industry. Andy married Laura Woodward, who is from Owensboro, KY, in 2007 and has four children, Tyler, Molly, Ben, and Luke. The Hennesseys currently live in St. Matthews and our active participants at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
BART BECKER, Secretary, is a graduate of Saint Xavier High School (98′) and the University of Kentucky (03′). Bart became good friends with Shaan at Saint Gabriel and grew that friendship when they both attended St. Xavier High School. Bart currently works for PNC Bank. Bart and his wife Angela are proud parents to their two girls, Avery and Addley.
MATT KUERZI is a is a Louisville native and a 1998 graduate of Saint Xavier High School where he was honored with the “Spirit of Saint Xavier Award”. After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a B.B.A. in Finance in 2002, he has worked as a financial advisor. Matt and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Will and Nicholas. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, following their beloved Louisville Cardinals and other favorite sports teams, golfing, and running. In addition to co-founding the Team Shaan Foundation, Matt is a volunteer committee member for the Down Syndrome of Louisville annual golf event.
