Skip to the page
First draft for Phil & Mary Beth · highlighted words are things we still need from you ·A: A seat by the fireB: Keeping the fire goingC: Help a student
Mason's FoundationBlue Collar Memorial

“College isn't for everyone.”

We're keeping the fire going.

For Mason, who found his place in the trades and made friends everywhere he went. And for every Huntington student still looking for theirs.

DonateThree ways to help
Mason in his Huntington Manor turnout gear, in front of the flag

Why a fire

A fire only keeps going if someone adds a log.

Mason's favorite place was a campfire upstate, his buddies around it, telling stories. That's the kind of fire we keep going now: stories that keep him close, and a toolbox for the next student who wants a trade.

How you can help

Three ways to keep the fire going.

1 · RememberAdd a storyHow you met him, what he was like, the time you will never forget. Every story is another log on the fire.Add your story →2 · GiveFill a toolboxGloves, glasses, a set of wrenches. $500 fills one student’s whole kit.Fill a toolbox →3 · Show upCome to the next oneFundraisers, a blood drive, days out with the people who loved him.See events →

His life, in moments

Who Mason was.

Growing up: Such a loveable kid.
Growing upSuch a loveable kid.
The little explorer: Always looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks.
The little explorerAlways looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks.
Scouts: Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Police Explorer. He joined everything with his friends.
ScoutsCub Scout, Boy Scout, Police Explorer. He joined everything with his friends.
The Hares Drill Team: Years with the East Farmingdale Hares, side by side with his friends.
The Hares Drill TeamYears with the East Farmingdale Hares, side by side with his friends.
Huntington Manor FD: A Huntington Manor junior, then a six-year firefighter.
Huntington Manor FDA Huntington Manor junior, then a six-year firefighter.
The Jeep: He started an Instagram club for his Jeep Liberty. Members from all over the world.
The JeepHe started an Instagram club for his Jeep Liberty. Members from all over the world.
His girl: Every Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He called this truck his girl.
His girlEvery Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He called this truck his girl.
The truck pulls, Riverhead: He started out with his Jeep, then brought his truck. Every pull, a few more friends.
The truck pulls, RiverheadHe started out with his Jeep, then brought his truck. Every pull, a few more friends.
Local 638, April 2025: Three years in the apprenticeship. He was so proud of himself.
Local 638, April 2025Three years in the apprenticeship. He was so proud of himself.
Every Christmas, thenEvery Christmas, now
Every ChristmasThe Santa photo with Gunnar and Colton, every Christmas from 2009 to 2023.
Out East: He hated the city and loved the outdoors. Out East is where he belonged.
Out EastHe hated the city and loved the outdoors. Out East is where he belonged.
Upstate: Weekends down by the river, at the county fair, around the campfire.
UpstateWeekends down by the river, at the county fair, around the campfire.
His people: So many stories of how we met, each one more amazing than the next.
His peopleSo many stories of how we met, each one more amazing than the next.
Growing up: Such a loveable kid.
Growing upSuch a loveable kid.
The little explorer: Always looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks.
The little explorerAlways looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks.
Scouts: Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Police Explorer. He joined everything with his friends.
ScoutsCub Scout, Boy Scout, Police Explorer. He joined everything with his friends.
The Hares Drill Team: Years with the East Farmingdale Hares, side by side with his friends.
The Hares Drill TeamYears with the East Farmingdale Hares, side by side with his friends.
Huntington Manor FD: A Huntington Manor junior, then a six-year firefighter.
Huntington Manor FDA Huntington Manor junior, then a six-year firefighter.
The Jeep: He started an Instagram club for his Jeep Liberty. Members from all over the world.
The JeepHe started an Instagram club for his Jeep Liberty. Members from all over the world.
His girl: Every Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He called this truck his girl.
His girlEvery Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He called this truck his girl.
The truck pulls, Riverhead: He started out with his Jeep, then brought his truck. Every pull, a few more friends.
The truck pulls, RiverheadHe started out with his Jeep, then brought his truck. Every pull, a few more friends.
Local 638, April 2025: Three years in the apprenticeship. He was so proud of himself.
Local 638, April 2025Three years in the apprenticeship. He was so proud of himself.
Every Christmas, thenEvery Christmas, now
Every ChristmasThe Santa photo with Gunnar and Colton, every Christmas from 2009 to 2023.
Out East: He hated the city and loved the outdoors. Out East is where he belonged.
Out EastHe hated the city and loved the outdoors. Out East is where he belonged.
Upstate: Weekends down by the river, at the county fair, around the campfire.
UpstateWeekends down by the river, at the county fair, around the campfire.
His people: So many stories of how we met, each one more amazing than the next.
His peopleSo many stories of how we met, each one more amazing than the next.
6 yearsa Huntington Manor firefighter
Local 638Steamfitter, class of April 2025
Worldwidemembers in his Jeep Liberty club
Countlessfriends, more than we could have imagined

6 stories by the fire so far

Every story is another log on the fire.

His buddies used to sit around the campfire upstate telling stories. This is that fire. Pull up a chair, read a few, and add yours.

Family
He even made friends with the kids that used to give him a hard time.
Phil and Mary Beth
Family
He was all about community and helping others.
Phil and Mary Beth
Family
There are so many stories of "how we met" and every one is more amazing than the next.
Phil and Mary Beth

Who we are

We know that search. We lived it with Mason.

Mason worked as an HVAC helper, at Cold Spring Harbor Labs, at Huntington Hospital and as a dock builder before Trane sent him into the Local 638 Steamfitters apprenticeship. He graduated in April of 2025, and he was so proud of himself.

His family started Mason's Foundation so the next student starts that road ready, with money in hand, tools of their own and a whole town behind them.

He was all about community and helping others. 

Phil and Mary Beth KraeseMason's parents
1 of 4

Mason found his trade.

Six students a year get to find theirs.

Every year the foundation helps graduating students from Huntington High School and Walt Whitman High School start in the trades, with $500 and up to $500 more in tools for the work they chose.

Fill this year's toolbox

Every scholar gets up to $500 in tools for their trade. Pick what you want to put in.

Tap the tools. $500 fills one student's toolbox.

Give to the toolboxTool prices: Phil to confirm a real starter kit

Last August

Last August, more than 400 of you kept it going.

Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Six Harbors Brewing Company. What it raised. Thank you to every sponsor, volunteer and friend who came. See what's next →

Keep Mason's story going.

Help us keep the fire going.

Mason's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your gift is tax deductible, and you get a receipt by email.

DonateAdd your story to the fire