David Cochenour, a friend of VanVranken s, serves on the foundation s all-volunteer board. We decided that a nonprofit was a great opportunity, Zac Cochenour said. The main goal at first was to do scholarships to give three or more students $5,000 each, and to donate to the ALS group of Susie s choice. We just want to bring awareness to it. I have an uncle with ALS, so it hits kind of close to home for me. Susie has impacted me and so many generations of people. I just wanted her to be remembered while she s still here.
Kyle Robbins, who lives in Charleston, S.C., said he learned of VanVranken s illness during a past visit home for the holidays. A 2006 Hoover graduate, Robbins is vice president of the foundation and was one of four football team co-captains under VanVranken s brother, Don Hertler Jr., along with Cochenour, Ron Gnau, and Josh Nettleton.