Christopher Paul Kosnik Program Fund
A Lifetime of Giving. A Legacy of Joy.
Honoring Christopher Paul Kosnik's legacy by enriching lives through meaningful dementia programming that inspires joy, preserves dignity, fosters connection, and creates moments that truly matter.
A Legacy Rooted in Compassion
Some people leave their mark on the world through extraordinary accomplishments. Others leave it through the kindness they show, the smiles they share, and the way they make those around them feel.
Christopher Paul Kosnik did both.
The Christopher Paul Kosnik Program Fund is an endowed fund lovingly established by Chris's family in his memory to support meaningful, life-enriching programming for individuals living with dementia at Upper Valley Adult Day Care, where Chris himself was once a participant.
Through this lasting gift, his family has created something truly special: an opportunity for Chris's compassion, generosity, and joyful spirit to continue touching the lives of others for generations to come.
A Life Dedicated to Helping Others
Chris was a man of extraordinary intelligence, endless curiosity, and a heart devoted to serving others. He was patient, thoughtful, generous, and deeply empathetic. A lifelong learner, volunteer, mentor, teacher, and advocate for those in need, Chris spent his life finding ways to make the world a better place.
His dedication to service began with the United States Peace Corps, where he served from 1985 to 1989 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as an aquaculture extension agent and volunteer leader.
After meeting his wife, Lindsay, at Cornell University, the couple married in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1992. Together, they spent the next seven years living in Africa, where Chris continued his work with the Peace Corps in leadership positions in Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, and Malawi.
In 1999, Chris and his family settled in Silver Spring, Maryland. He continued his career with the Peace Corps before transitioning to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Throughout his career, he worked in sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, land tenure, and water resources, ultimately serving as Director of USAID's Water Office.
In 2016, at just 54 years old, Chris was forced into early retirement due to his illness. Although his professional career ended sooner than expected, his passion for helping others, his remarkable intelligence, and his generous spirit remained defining parts of who he was.
Creating Meaningful Moments in His Memory
A Legacy That Lives On
Chris spent much of his life making a difference in communities around the world. Through the generosity of his family, he will continue making a difference right here in the Upper Valley.
The Christopher Paul Kosnik Program Fund is more than an investment in programming. It is a tribute to a man who demonstrated that kindness doesn't have to be loud to be powerful, that helping others can bring tremendous joy, and that even the smallest gestures can leave a lasting impression.
We are deeply grateful to Chris's family for choosing to honor his memory in such a meaningful and enduring way.
Because of their generosity, future participants will have opportunities to sing, dance, laugh, learn, connect, and experience the simple joys that meant so much to Chris.
And perhaps the most beautiful part of his legacy is this:
A man who spent his life helping others will continue doing exactly that, even after his passing.
Chris may no longer walk through our doors with that unforgettable smile, but his spirit will remain a part of Upper Valley Adult Day Care through every meaningful moment created in his name.
Every Moment Matters. Every Connection Counts. Every Life Deserves Joy.
"Chris spent his life making the world a better place. Through this fund, his legacy will continue—one smile, one song, one dance, and one meaningful moment at a time."
Continue Chris's Legacy
Your Gift. His Legacy. Countless Meaningful Moments.
Christopher Paul Kosnik spent his life helping others. From his decades of service around the world to the simple acts of kindness he shared at Upper Valley Adult Day Care, Chris believed in making a difference.
Today, you have the opportunity to carry that spirit forward.
Through the Christopher Paul Kosnik Program Fund, your generosity helps support meaningful, life-enriching experiences for individuals living with dementia.
Your contribution helps create opportunities for music that brings back a familiar feeling, activities that inspire creativity, friendships that provide comfort, and moments of laughter that brighten even the most difficult days.
As an endowed fund, your gift becomes part of a lasting legacy, helping support these meaningful experiences for years to come.
Chris loved to sing, dance, learn, laugh, and lend a helping hand. Through this fund, those simple joys will continue touching the lives of others in his memory.
Because every individual deserves to experience joy, every connection matters, and every moment is worth making meaningful.
Make a Gift in Memory of Christopher Paul Kosnik
Help us honor Chris's remarkable life by continuing the kindness and compassion he shared so freely.
Every gift, regardless of size, helps carry his legacy forward.
Thank you for helping us turn a lifetime of compassion into a lasting legacy of joy.
Despite the challenges he faced, Chris continued to show us the importance of kindness, connection, curiosity, and finding joy in everyday life.
He reminded us that behind every dementia diagnosis is a person with a lifetime of experiences, accomplishments, relationships, and stories worth celebrating.
Chris was so much more than his illness.
He was a husband, a friend, a mentor, a teacher, a volunteer, an advocate, and a lifelong learner.
He was the gentleman who always wanted to help.
He was the dancer who could make everyone smile.
He was the quiet man who knew the most wonderfully random things.
He was Chris. And we were incredibly fortunate to have known him.
The Chris We Knew and Loved
When Chris became a participant at Upper Valley Adult Day Care, we had the privilege of getting to know the man behind his extraordinary accomplishments.
And what a remarkable man he was.
Chris had a smile that could light up an entire room. He was often quiet, but his actions spoke louder than words ever could. He was always looking for ways to lend a helping hand, whether assisting staff, helping fellow participants, or simply finding something useful he could do.
Helping others wasn't just something Chris did throughout his career. It was part of who he was.
Chris was also wonderfully witty and silly, with a sense of humor that could catch you completely off guard. He loved to make people laugh and had an incredible ability to share the most fascinating, unexpected, and wonderfully random facts. Staff were frequently amazed by his knowledge and the things he could recall.
And then there was his love of music.
Chris loved to sing and dance. When the music started, his joyful personality came shining through. His smile, laughter, and enthusiasm were contagious, creating moments that brought happiness to everyone around him.
The Christopher Paul Kosnik Program Fund was established to ensure that Chris's spirit of generosity and compassion continues to make a difference in the lives of individuals living with dementia.
At Upper Valley Adult Day Care, we believe that every individual deserves opportunities to experience joy, purpose, dignity, and meaningful human connection.
For someone living with dementia, even the simplest moments can have an extraordinary impact.
A familiar song may spark a cherished memory. A creative activity may inspire a sense of accomplishment. A shared laugh, a conversation, or a moment of companionship may provide comfort and connection when words become difficult to find.
Through the Christopher Paul Kosnik Program Fund, we can continue offering meaningful experiences that celebrate each person's individuality and enhance their quality of life.
The fund supports life-enriching programming such as music, art, creative expression, cognitive stimulation, sensory experiences, movement, and social engagement.
These activities do more than fill the hours of a day. They create opportunities for individuals to feel valued, connected, engaged, and included.
As an endowed fund, it is designed to provide a lasting source of financial support, helping ensure that these important opportunities remain available to future generations of participants.
