BBU Foundation (Formally Becky’s Beard Unit) started as a small event to honor Rebecca “Becky” Scott, a young, vibrant paramedic who had just lost her battle to breast cancer.
Becky’s Beard Unit was founded in November of 2015 in memory of Rebecca “Becky” Scott.
Becky was a paramedic with Virtua EMS and was a volunteer first responder in Burlington County, New Jersey. Becky passed away on October 27, 2015 at the young age of 28 after a long, heroic fight against breast cancer.
Police Officers Mort Haney and Will Lancenese of Burlington City Police Department in New Jersey began a fundraising campaign within their agency to raise money the month following Becky’s passing.
Officers in their agency grew facial hair, as many due during “No Shave November”, and each officer raised and donated money which was in turn donated to Becky’s family who set up a scholarship fund in her name.
The following years, the fundraising campaign grew tremendously, and Officer Chuck Ryder of Edgewater Park Police Department joined Mort and Will with their fundraising efforts.
Money was raised each year by both agencies thereafter and ultimately donated to local children battling their own adversities. Numerous children and their families were provided funding for various medical assistance avenues and Becky’s Beard Unit was able to send each of the children and their families to Walt Disney World with an all-expenses paid trip following their recoveries.
In March of 2019, Becky’s Beard Unit officially became a 501(C)3 Non-Profit Incorporation recognized by the Federal Government and State of New Jersey. For several years, the organization continued to flourish and make great impacts within the community. As a result, at the beginning of year 2021, becky’s beard unit formally transitioned our organization to “BBU Foundation”. we created a new organization logo, which still has a lot of symbolism and keeps us true to our history (see below). with this transition, bbu foundation will be able to grow even bigger, and will help extend our reach to communties far and wide, all while still honoring the memory of Becky Scott.
WHAT DOES OUR LOGO MEAN?
Through the years, BBU has had three different logos. Our most recent logo was created to visually simplify who we are to the public. There is a lot of meaning and symbolism behind the logo. When designing the logo, the anchor was incorporated to symbolize strength, steadfastness and hope. Also, the anchor holds us to our roots to which our organization was founded in Burlington City, New Jersey. Anyone that knows historic Burlington City can relate to the anchor in our logo, because at the heart of the town, on the riverfront promenade at the end of High Street, an anchor is positioned on land.
