In every community, there are people whose presence leaves a mark so deep that even after they’re gone, their spirit continues to move others. In Londonderry, that person is Jacob “Jake” Naar a son, a friend, a teammate, and a young man remembered for his warmth, loyalty, humor, and the way he could make even the hardest days feel lighter. Jake lived by a simple message: No Bad Days. Now, that message is becoming a legacy.

Jake’s family, friends, and the many people who have been touched by his life announced the official launch of the Naar Classic Foundation, a Londonderry-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to carrying Jake’s spirit forward through scholarships, youth programs, charitable events, and community service.

The Foundation grew from something small and heartfelt, a grassroots basketball tournament created in 2021 after Jake’s passing. What began as a way for friends to gather, remember, and heal slowly became something bigger. Each year, more people showed up. More teams registered. More volunteers stepped forward. More families came to watch. The laughter, the competition, the hugs, the shared memories, all of it became a testament to how deeply Jake touched this town.

By its sixth year, the Naar Classic Tournament had raised more than $7,000 for scholarships, engaged hundreds of community members, and built a tradition that felt less like an event and more like a homecoming. It was clear that the tournament had become more than a  game. It had become a movement.

Now, that movement has a permanent home.

The Naar Classic Foundation will expand the scholarship program that has already helped local students pursue their dreams. It will support youth sports and mentorship programs,  create volunteer opportunities, and build partnerships that strengthen the community Jake loved. It will continue hosting the annual tournament, now scheduled for Aug. 1, 2026 at LAFA Fields, complete with basketball  games, food, raffles, prizes, and activities that bring people together in the way Jake always did.

For Jake’s parents, Reggie and Judi Naar, the Foundation is both a tribute and a promise.

“Together, we’re honoring Jake by creating opportunities for students and giving back to the very community that has embraced and supported us so generously,” they shared. “We are extremely grateful for the creation of this Foundation for helping us turn remembrance into opportunity, and legacy into lasting change. Nothing but love.”

The Foundation’s guiding message No Bad Days is more than a slogan. It’s the way Jake lived. It’s the way he encouraged others to live. And now, it’s the message that will shape every scholarship awarded, every program launched, every volunteer effort organized, and every young person inspired through the Foundation’s work.

Executive Director Arianna Reyes and the Foundation’s leadership team say they are committed to transforming community participation into meaningful impact. Sponsorships, donations, volunteering, merchandise purchases, and tournament participation all help fuel the Foundation’s mission. Every dollar raised supports scholarships and future charitable initiatives designed to lift others up just as Jake always did.

The Naar Classic Foundation is more than an organization. It is a reminder that even in loss, a community can choose love. It can choose connection. It can choose to carry forward the best parts of someone who meant so much to so many.

Jake’s story continues not just in memory, but in action. In every scholarship awarded. In every young athlete encouraged. In every volunteer who shows up. In every person who chooses to live with “No Bad Days” in their heart. And in Londonderry, that story is just beginning.