Our Mission
OUR MISSION is to instill hope in the lives of children and teen survivors through education and the arts. By partnering with local and national foundations, The Stan Deen Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for traumatized adolescents through investing in their education and artistic abilities in order to build stronger, better informed and more engaged individuals.
Stan and Nate’s Story
Of all the relationships Stan formed throughout his lifetime, few were as special as the one with his surrogate son-Nathaniel who officially changed his name to Nathaniel Deen in March 2018.
Stan Deen helped Nathaniel see that life isn’t about all that you receive, but more about all that you give to others. Stan would often say this quote from HELLO DOLLY… “Money is like manure, it’s no good unless you spread it around encouraging young things to grow.” Nathaniel Deen has established THE STAN DEEN FOUNDATION to not only honor Stan, but to work with and rehabilitate children and teens who have endured tragedy just as he did. Nathaniel is living proof that “all the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”
A small act of kindness, planted a seed of Hope and Initiated a bond that would last for more than 30 years.
Teacher, Director, Speaker and so much more…
Stan Deen
A man of profound faith, Stan combined his love for the Lord with his passion for educating teenagers by serving as a youth minister for various churches throughout his lifetime. While at Garden Spot, he also established Early Birds, a weekly Bible study that he led before the school day began. For decades, Stan also was a highly sought-after public speaker and local humorist. In that role, he would share his testimony of salvation and recount poignant lessons he learned from teaching with many local audiences.
In addition to his lifelong passions for education and theatre, Stan enjoyed a deep love of reading (especially the works of Shakespeare), traveling, vacations to the Outer Banks, Broadway musicals (his favorite being “Billy Elliott”), Barbra Streisand, Marilyn Monroe, Neil Diamond, Doris Day, Achenbach’s Pastries, Jujyfruits, his friend Diana’s fruit salad, reminiscing with cherished friends, colleagues, and former students, and spending time with his beloved, “dysfunctional” family.
BRAVE THE DARK
Nate Deen
Nathaniel Deen, lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with his wife Jessica, their two mini-golden-doodles, Winston & Remi, & their cat, Lucy. Nate has 30 plus years experience in professional photography, theater & film and is currently self employed as a Film Producer. Nathaniel’s life story has been made into a feature film called Brave the Dark, which centers around his experience of escaping the darkness of his past. With the help and unconditional love from a teacher, Mr. Stan Deen, Nathaniel was able to begin the healing process as he and Stan became a family. In 2018 Nathaniel and Jessica officially changed their last name to DEEN to honor Stan and the love he showed Nathaniel. Along with Brave the Dark, Nathaniel has launched The Stan Deen Foundation, to help inspire hope in others who have struggled with traumatic experiences in life.
About the Stan Deen Foundation
THE STAN DEEN FOUNDATION (SDF) is a registered 501c3 organization. Contributions support children and teen survivors of traumatic events. OUR MISSION is to instill hope in the lives of children and teen survivors through education and the arts. All donations to this organization are tax exempt.
Nate’s Story / Braving the Darkness
Fundraising & Events
