What Erie Gives Makes Possible: David Milano Memorial Foundation

Grief has the power to change a person’s life forever. 

For some, it becomes something they carry quietly. For others, it becomes the beginning of a mission to ensure that the person they lost continues to make a difference in the lives of others. 

That is the story behind the David Milano Memorial Foundation. 

David Anthony Milano was many things to those who loved him. He was a son, a twin brother, an athlete, a husband, and a father. Throughout his life, he also lived with serious mental illness, facing challenges that became increasingly difficult as he grew older. Despite his family’s unwavering love and determination to help him, David died by suicide in December 2020 after years of struggling with his mental health. 

In the wake of that unimaginable loss, David’s mother made a decision that transformed heartbreak into hope. 

Rather than allowing David’s story to end with tragedy, she established the David Milano Memorial Foundation to honor his life and create opportunities for others. Through the foundation’s annual golf tournament and community support, scholarships are awarded to students pursuing higher education who need financial assistance. The organization has also supported local athletic programs, including purchasing wrestling singlets for a high school team in recognition of David’s lifelong love of the sport. 

Thanks to the generosity of Erie Gives donors, that work continues. 

Every contribution helps ensure that David’s legacy is one of compassion, opportunity, and advocacy rather than loss alone. Students are able to pursue educational dreams they may not have otherwise achieved, while the foundation continues raising awareness about mental illness and advocating for improvements in mental health care and support for families navigating similar challenges. 

For David’s family, this work is deeply personal. 

It is a way of keeping his memory alive, sharing his story with honesty, and reminding others that mental illness deserves the same compassion, understanding, and support as any other health condition. It is also a call to continue improving the systems that serve individuals and families living with mental illness so that others may find the help they need before it’s too late. 

Every Erie Gives donation helps carry that mission forward. 

Sometimes, the most meaningful legacies aren’t found in monuments or buildings. They’re found in students who receive opportunities, families who feel less alone, and conversations that inspire greater understanding and compassion. Through the David Milano Memorial Foundation, one family’s loss has become a lasting source of hope for countless others. 

This story is part of The Erie Community Foundation’s What Erie Gives Makes Possible series, celebrating the lasting impact of Erie Gives and the power of collective generosity across our community.