Editor’s Note: Several additions, photos, and a link to event video have been added to this story. A business was inadvertently referenced in the video. Dance Werk Fitness with Debbie Klinker is among the businesses and organizations involved in the fundraising efforts.
Washington Township Police Chief Michael Thompson and Indian Lake Middle School student Reed Cascioli’s mother, Tara, shared some additional information and thoughts following Thursday’s memorial tribute to Shawn Humprey.
As of Friday morning, $4,194.50 has been collected, with additional donations to benefit the Humprey family still expected. A final total is anticipated Monday, as another contribution is expected Sunday, Washington Township Police Chief Michael Thompson said.
“I’d just like to express my appreciation to the community for coming together,” Thompson said. “I encourage everyone to have the heart that sixth-grader Reed Cascioli has — to find ways to love and encourage one another. We never know what people are going through, and even a small act of kindness can make a difference in someone’s life.”
Tara Cascioli said her son never expected the tribute to grow beyond a simple gesture among teammates.
She said when Reed learned of the loss of his classmate, he immediately began thinking of a way to honor him, first coordinating with his basketball teammates before expanding the idea to the entire sixth-grade class through a group chat. After Cascioli shared Reed’s Instagram post on Facebook, the effort quickly spread throughout the community.
When Cascioli learned news outlets might attend the game, she said she told her son to be prepared in case the media wanted to speak with him. His response reflected his humility.
“Why would they talk to me? This isn’t about me,” Reed said.
Cascioli said her son has stepped up before to support a friend in need, recalling how he once sought to lift the spirits of a friend who had lost his father by arranging a trip to a Pittsburgh Steelers game. With help from the Washington Township Police Officers Association, the trip was organized on short notice.
She said her greatest pride as a parent comes not from athletics or academics, but from watching her son be a good friend, teammate and person.
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It started with one sixth grader asking his community to show up for a friend.
On Thursday night, they did.
What began as a simple social media post from Reed Cascioli became a powerful show of love and unity as students, families and community members filled the gym at Indian Lake Elementary School to remember Shawn Lee Humphrey.
Reed, Shawn’s friend, classmate and basketball teammate, invited people to attend the Jan. 29 sixth-grade boys basketball game wearing white T-shirts bearing Shawn’s name and jersey number 7. The response exceeded expectations, transforming the evening into a moving tribute and a shared moment of healing.
Shawn, 11, a sixth grader at Indian Lake Middle School, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 25. He was known for his energy, kindness and wide range of interests, participating in multiple sports and activities and never hesitating to strike up a conversation with someone new. Family members described him as friendly, outgoing and always smiling, with his happiest moments spent alongside family and friends.
The night’s gathering reflected those same qualities, as classmates, teachers, coaches and community members came together not just for a basketball game, but to honor a young life that left a lasting impression.
“For a young man, probably 11 or 12 years old, to think and have the capacity to pull this event off is truly remarkable,” said Washington Township Police Chief Mike Thompson, referring to Reed’s leadership.
Chief Thompson thanked those in attendance for coming, as well as the school district, noting that school personnel are working on future programs and efforts to support students in the wake of their classmate’s passing.
Several local organizations are engaged in fundraising efforts to support the Humphrey family, he said. The Washington Township Police Officers Association pledged to donate $10 for each student wearing a memorial T-shirt, with Boaters Helping Boaters and The Abigail Dague Scholarship Fund each agreeing to match those donations at $10 per student, up to $500.
Additionally, Thompson said he was contacted by Debbie Klinker with Dance Werk Fitness and Rebekah Smith, co-owner of Indian Lake Brewing Co., and the businesses also wish to help with fundraising efforts.
Indian Lake sixth-grade boys basketball coach Jake Boyd then addressed the students, speaking candidly about grief and the importance of looking out for one another.
“This is really hard,” Boyd said. “Most of us never had to go through something like this at your age.”
Boyd, a lifelong Laker, told the students the support filling the gym was a reminder of what makes the Indian Lake community special.
“This is why some of us never leave,” he said. “This is home.”
He encouraged students to check on one another and to remember that people often carry more pain than they let on.
“You don’t have to look perfect,” Boyd said. “Sometimes the quietest people are hurting the most.”
Boyd emphasized that supporting one another begins with listening and believing someone who says they are struggling.
“Support is checking on a friend. It’s listening instead of judging,” he said. “It’s saying, ‘I’m not okay,’ and being believed.”
He closed by reminding students that asking for help is not a failure.
“Needing help doesn’t mean you’ve failed,” Boyd said. “It means you’re human. If you’re struggling, please tell someone — a friend, a teacher, a coach, a parent — anyone. You deserve support, and your life matters more than you might realize.”
Tara Cascioli, Reed’s mother and youth pastor at Indian Lake Community Church, asked the crowd to observe a moment of silence in Shawn’s memory, then led those gathered in prayer.
And yes — there was a basketball game, too.
The sixth-grade boys were originally scheduled to play Northwestern, but the Warriors canceled classes Thursday along with all athletic events. Rather than cancel the evening, the sixth-grade Laker girls stepped in, creating an unexpected and memorable matchup.
A brief discussion followed about playing co-ed, but in a nod to old-school Sadie Hawkins tradition, the teams stayed boys versus boys and girls versus girls — except for Reed Cascioli, who crossed the floor to join the girls, drawing some laughs.
The game itself proved fittingly dramatic. With the score tied at 26, Johnnie Harford sank at 3-pointer with two ticks left to lift the boys to a 29–26 win. Hartford finished with 14 points, while Reed Cascioli added 12 points playing with the girls’ team.
Funeral services for Shawn Humphrey will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at Shoffstall Funeral Home in Lakeview, with visitation from 1 to 3 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Indian Lake State Park for improvements at Blackhawk Park or to MHDAS.org to support youth mental-health services.
When the final horn sounded, the score mattered far less than the reason everyone had come together — to remember a friend gone far too soon, and to remind each other they are not alone.
Additional photos below were provided by Indian Lake Schools unless otherwise indicated.
