Every life needs meaning.
Every death needs meaning.
The following information was provided by Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother. The life and death of Matthew Shepard will continue to have meaning through the establishment of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The Shepard family has created this Foundation to help people abandon ignorance, prejudice and hate. The Foundation will be dedicated to the principle of helping people move beyond tolerance to embrace and rejoice in diversity. The energy and resources of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, in conjunction with the Matthew Shepard memorial fund, will be devoted to public awareness and education programs to ensure that what Matt lived for and believed in will help others believe as well.