Lindsay Karen Matthews

Lindsay Matthews graduated from Orchard Park High School in 2007.  Lindsay was a sophomore attending Geneseo State University when she was killed in a tragic accident in November 2008.

Lindsay Matthews was an active participant in many high school activities.  She worked at the Boys & Girls Club of Orchard Park and also volunteered for the TOPSoccer Program, which is designed for youth with special needs.  Lindsay was studying to be a speech pathologist.  Lindsay was competitive, compassionate, loved children and, as you can see, had the most beautiful smile.  Lindsay, a devoted student athlete, knew at a young age what was important in life.  Among all her accomplishments at a young age, Lindsay cared the most about one thing, helping others.

This year the Matthews family, with the help of close friends, is hosting the eleventh annual Lindsay Matthews 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk in memory of Lindsay Matthews.  There will also be a .5 mile 'Kids Fun Run' for those 10 and under.  This year’s event will take place on Sunday July 31, 2022 at 10:00am at the Orchard Park Soccer Club at 6909 Milestrip Road, Orchard Park, New York, 14127.  With the generous support of friends and family, the Matthews family can ensure that Lindsay’s memory lives on through scholarships provided to Orchard Park High School student-athletes’.  Last year, there were over 500 registered participants for the Lindsay Matthews 5K & 1Mi Walk, and with your support, we hope to see that number increase this year.

Lindsay Matthews was an inspiration to all lives that she touched and was the definition of a true student athlete.  She was a talented soccer player for Orchard Park High School and SUNY Geneseo, but it would be an injustice to remember her solely for the sport she loved when she was gifted in all aspects of life.  Lindsay enjoyed spending time with children, in which she used her sport to teach children life lessons that could never be forgotten.  Lindsay's work ethic and self-discipline helped her achieve success inside and outside the classroom, as she struggled to settle for anything less than excellence.  Ultimately, Lindsay made the most unselfish gift in her life, as her parents donated her organs to three people, two of which were young children from Syracuse, New York.

In 2009, with the donations from friends and local businesses, the Matthews family started the Lindsay Karen Matthews Memorial Scholarship, in which two $1,500 scholarships are awarded to seniors who participated in an Orchard Park Varsity sports team and intend to pursue a higher education in a helping profession.  The recipients of the scholarship are student-athletes who model seriousness or purpose in the classroom and on the field and a dedication to service in their community.  Like Lindsay, the recipients' actions exemplify sportsmanship over gamesmanship, excellence over mediocrity, and selfless compassion for others above all.