CHAPEL HILL  – The transplant wing at UNC Hospitals is $30,000 closer to being named after the man who formerly cheered on North Carolina as Rameses.

“That’s just more than we had; that’s the way to look at it,” says Charlotte Ray, the mother of Jason. “Each step that we take—no matter what it is, what anybody does for us—that’s just getting us closer and closer to it.”

Jason died in 2007 after being hit by a car. He was in New Jersey with the UNC men’s basketball team for the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

His organs help save four lives and positively affected so many more. Because of his meaningful story, UNC Hospitals contacted the Jason Ray Foundation with the idea of naming the transplant center after him.

Sunday was the Second Annual Jason Ray Brunch and Silent Auction in which that idea took a few steps closer to reality.

“There was right close to—with the cheerleaders and everybody—I would say approximately 170 people that attended,” Charlotte says. “It was wonderful. We made a little over $30,000.”

Jason’s parents were left with the terrible burden of having their son taken from them without warning, but Charlotte says moments like Sunday when people come together to pay tribute makes it a little bit easier.

“Everybody’s been just so generous and supportive that it’s just therapy to think what a legacy this is for him,” Charlotte says.

Donations can always be made to the Jason Ray Foundation by clicking here. There’s one more event this year at which people can contribute: the Fifth Annual Jason Ray Golf and Silent Auction August 25 and 26 in Davidson, North Carolina.

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