Otto Strong Forever

Welcome to Otto Strong Forever!

Otto Funderburk was a vibrant, happy boy who was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 12. Otto's hope, perseverance and determination along with the support of family and friends, helped him to fight for months. In December of 2018, Otto lost his battle. However, his family and friends continue to host events in order to keep his spirit alive.

The Funderburk family has created a fund in Otto's memory. The money from this fund will help to give scholarships to graduating seniors who are active in baseball or swimming. In addition, the money will be used to help support children and families affected by cancer. Donations can be made by check made out to the Connecticut Community Foundation with a note for the Otto Funderburk Fund. Checks can be sent to Connecticut Community Foundation, 43 Field Street, Waterbury, CT 06702. If making a donation by credit card is preferred, please click on the following link. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/funderburk

What's Coming Up

The 6th Annual Otto Strong Wiffleball Tournament will be taking place at Settlers Field in Southbury, CT on July 19th. Check in will take place at 9:30am and play will begin approximately at 10am. This is a free to attend event. If people are interested in creating a wiffleball team, they can purchase tickets at buytickets.at/ottostrongforever . As always, we will be having a raffle tent with an assortment of prizes. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the event in order to participate.

T-shirts are currently for sale. If interested, go to buytickets.at/ottostrongforever .

The Otto Strong Forever/Pomperaug Youth Baseball Awards

Since 2019, each year, the Otto Strong Forever organization in conjunction with Pomperaug Youth Baseball, has awarded a PYB baseball player that demonstrates the characteristics that Otto possessed during his brief stay on earth. Winners of the award receive a hat and jersey stitched with the number 19, similar to Otto's baseball uniform he wore for the PYB Travel Team. Names of the award winners can be found on a plaque displayed on Ewald Field in Southbury, CT, where Otto played baseball.

The Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winners

Since the Spring of 2019, the parents of Otto Funderburk (Mark and Leigh Funderburk) have been able to give away two scholarships to graduating high school seniors from Pomperaug High School who have intentions of furthering their education. The funds are provided through the Otto Funderburk Memorial Fund in care of the Connecticut Community Foundation. The scholarship requires that winners either have particpated in Pomeraug Youth Baseball or Panther Aquatic Club (both clubs are represented by the Middlebury Parks and Recreation and Southbury Parks and Recreation). Applications are submitted and reviewed by the Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Committee. We give away these scholarships yearly.

2025

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

James Girardi

2025

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Theresa Funderburk

2024

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Riley O'Brien

2024

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Michael Tutoli

2023

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Jackson Lowell

2023

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Margaret Rutledge

2022

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Reilly Burke

2022

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Evan Gonzalez

2021

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Delaney Blizman

2020

Otto Funderburk Memorial Scholarship Winner

Ethan Waskeil

Otto Strong Donates to the Pomperaug High School Pool

Pictured above is the starting block that was installed at the Pomperaug High School (PHS) pool.

Our organization donated money for a new starting block in Lane 1 at the Pomperaug High School pool. Five other organizations contributed as well. Otto swam at the PHS pool for the Panther Aquatic Club since he was 7 years old.

Events From the Past

19 Rocks for Otto

Family and friends gathered together to design 19 rocks, each with a specific trait that represented Otto. The Funderburk family then hid the rocks all over Southbury in hopes that anyone who found the rocks would take a picture of the rock, post it to Otto Strong Forever Facebook page, and then hide it somewhere for another person to find it.

Ski and Snowboarding Sticker for Otto

The Funderburk family as well as a few friends took specially designed Otto Strong stickers and went to various ski resorts. They passed out the stickers to random ski and snowboarders so they could add them to their helmets. This is something that Otto loved, adding new stickers to his helmet. Just spreading the Otto love!

Movie Night at Riverview Cinemas

The Funderburks along with friends and the Riverview Cinema hosted a movie night in honor of Otto. Donations for tickets as well as proceeds from a ton of raffles went to the Otto Funderburk Fund. Participants enjoyed watching one of Otto's favorite Star Wars movies.

Belly of the Hog 5K

The Black Hog Brewery in conjunction with Sound Runners and the Funderburks hosted a 5K at the brewery. Over a hundred people ran in Otto's honor. Mix Bomb IPA, a beer made in Otto's memory, was sold to public. Raffle tickets were also sold for some pretty incredible prizes! A portion of the proceeds went to the Otto Funderburk Fund.

PYB Opening Ceremonies

The Funderburk family was invited as well as the PYB community to participate in opening ceremonies at Ewald Field. During the morning, a banner was unveiled to the public in honor of Otto.

MMS/RMS baseball game -

The boys of the MMS baseball team worked together to create benches and installed them on the boys MMS baseball field. Family as well as MMS staff held a brief ceremony to dedicate the benches. Following the dedication, the boys baseball and softball teams played ball! It was a wonderful afternoon to honor our boy!

Otto Strong Wiffle Ball Tournament

The Funderburk family , along with PYB, hosted a WIFFLE ball tournament this past July. It was well attended from all ages. We had numerous teams battling it out for the coveted Otto Strong trophy. It was a great time had by all!

PAC / Otto Strong Cardboard Boat Race and Free Swim

PAC and the Funderburk family really put their heads together for this fun event. So many teams of people came out with their cardboard boats ready to race! With only cardboard and duct tape, there were some that floated to the end and some who did not! What a great event!!

Naked...Wings at Pies and Pub

Pies and Pub in Middlebury, CT hosted an Otto Strong Event. Anyone who knew Otto could share in his love for wings! We had many families come and participate in the fun.

Otto Strong Forever Family Bike Ride

Many folks came out as we all got on our bikes and rode down the Bridle Path. People chose how far they wanted to ride that day. Some traveled a mile, others 10 miles. No matter what the distance, riders were greeted by posters of Otto's 19 traits as a reminder of who were we riding for. Thanks to everyone who came out to ride!

Ornaments for Otto

Tess Funderburk, in cooperation with Marcus Klim, designed an Otto Strong ornament. Woodbury Pewter helped us to create a mold as well as the finished ornament to sell as one final fundraiser for the Otto Funderburk Memorial Fund. Many people purchased this to place on their Christmas tree.

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