WBYC in the News

Our oldest son, William, died at the age of 9

As tragedy sent Concordians reeling, school officials and others set to work to help ease the community’s pain.

Shaw joins WBUR's All Things Considered to offer advice for family and friends processing grief.

"I really encourage people to share stories, to say the names, to show up," Shaw said.

As part of their healing, the Shaw family launched William's Be Yourself Challenge, a nonprofit that benefits grieving families.

​

A campaign is being launched to provide a new sanctuary on Cape Cod for families who are grieving the death of their child.

This winter, Falmouth High School students took part in a social-emotional learning program that aims to change lives. It’s called Challenge Day, and it’s a day-long workshop put on by a company that takes the program all over the world.

A family whose young son died in a skiing accident in 2019 is hoping to establish a home in Falmouth where other families, who have lost a child or a parent, can escape their everyday lives for a week, free of charge.

For one family, hats like their son and brother’s favorite have become cherished symbols of his enduring spirit.

Sydney Mascari decorates a t-shirt during the William’s Be Yourself Challenge thank-you event on October 5.

2nd Place Winner—WBYC Camp; Judge’s comments: “We appreciate the mobile camp experience, with just the right amount of Trail over Tail! A huge sentimental favorite.”

William's Be Yourself Challenge

WBYC Brightens The Night for William's birthday

Brighten The Night

Carlisle sixth-grader Nico Procopio received the “Be Yourself” award during the William Be Yourself Challenge volunteer appreciation event on Friday, October 27.

William Wolfgang Shaw's family and friends found a way to remember him and work with children to teach them about loss and resilience.

WBYC kids selling luminaries for Brighten the Night

Running for love: Why WBYC kids ran the Falmouth Road Race

A charity team of 22 will run the Falmouth Road Race to fundraise for a fledgling nonprofit formed in his name: the “William Be Yourself Challenge” (WBYC).

Members of William’s Be Yourself Challenge prepare for the Falmouth Road Race including (left to right) Susie and Kai Shaw, Cameron and Amy Smack, Bridget and Caroline Ferrari, Reid Purwin and Stephanie Koch, and Katie and Colin Terry

Dr. Nancy Rappaport is the first in William's Be Yourself Challenge speaker series.

At the Parkour Challenge in June, many of William’s school friends wrote notes on hearts and put them on the Spalding fence.

Brightening the Night

Beloved role model who loved cooking, music, math and sports