RVN3 Foundation

Richard Vernon Nielsen III, known by family and friends as Bubba, was taken from this world too early at the young age of 22. His life revolved around sports, mainly soccer, basketball, and track but also included football, golf, wrestling, and snowboarding. Being such a competitive athlete, he did not let anything get in the way of being able to participate in whatever sport the season called for. This met staying out of trouble and keeping his grades up to be eligible to play. From his years in sports Bubba gained lifelong qualities of teamwork and leadership and built up sense of confidence that no one could take away from him. All of that helped him excel through the short but fulfilled life he shared with us.

He is the inspiration behind the RVN3 foundation, where we hope to use sports to promote education and support kids in their academic and athletic endeavors alike. 

When Bubba passed away, a Go Fund Me account was created to help ease the financial burden that comes with the unexpected loss of a loved one. Family, friends, and many supporters in the town of Payson donated to this account and Bubba’s family has decided to use that money to create a foundation in his name. With special help from the family of Nicholas Minard, another life taken much to young from this world, and help and direction from The Gracie Lee Haught memorial fund the Nielsen’s are well on their way to taking the foundation from a dream and turning into a reality.

We hope to become heavily involved in keeping kids in sports and helping them keep their grades high. Affiliation with sports not only gives kids the motivation to keep up their grades but can help keep them out of trouble and build their confidence overall. We saw what support sports provided for Bubba, we want to provide the opportunity and keep sports a priority in our small hometown. This foundation will allot us to do so.