About Us

The Andrew Farrell Spirit of Courage Fund was established in honor of the late Andrew Farrell, a successful high school student athlete with a persona that proved to be larger than life. While his dream of becoming a collegiate baseball player was tragically cut short, the Fund has enabled numerous students with the same career goals as Andrew to live the dream that he was unable to have. 

The Spirit of Courage Fund is a non-profit organization which raises money to support an annual scholarship awarded to a senior member of the George Washington High School baseball team at the conclusion of each season and a grant to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The recipient of the scholarship is selected on the basis that he exemplifies the same attributes that Andrew possessed both on and off the field: leadership skills, determination and courage.

Andrew showed spirit and courage throughout his entire life and defined the true meaning of a teammate. He was a pitcher for the George Washington High School baseball team during the undefeated regular season in 2001. He was known to come through with great words of encouragement during tough times and could change a game with the swing of the bat. One Philadelphia Daily News article even called him a “Babe Ruth-sized designated hitter.”  

But it’s the times away from the field that Andrew really showed his true self. 

Andrew and the Farrell family endured many hardships even before his own personal battle. In 1996, Andrew’s older brother Tom was diagnosed with a brain tumor that resulted in vision loss in one eye. In 1999, Andrew’s younger brother Michael died from brain cancer, and later in 2003, Andrew’s mother Michelle passed away from complications due to pancreatic and cervical cancer.  

Many difficult obstacles seemed to keep arising in front of Andrew, but no matter what the situation was, he continued on with his head held high. He wasn’t one to complain about his personal hardships and he continued to live life to its fullest. 

But in June 2003, Andrews’s life would be changed forever when he was diagnosed with leukemia and given only a 20% chance of survival. 

It is said that shortly after his grim diagnosis that the first thing he asked when he was seen by visitors in his hospital room was if the baseball team had won their baseball game that afternoon.  

His love for the Washington baseball team had a lot to do with his former coaches, Coach Bilkins and Coach Jim O’Hara. Coach Bilkins gave the team a quote to live by in 2001 -- “Teammate: It’s amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”  

This is something that Andrew applied even off of the field as he coped with the passing of his loved ones. 

Shortly after being diagnosed with leukemia, Andrew Farrell passed away on April 18, 2004 at the age of 21. He continued to fight just as he did on the baseball field, and alongside of his family members, and continued to exemplify his own spirit of courage throughout his own personal battle.  

The Andrew Farrell Spirit of Courage Fund continues to carry Andrew’s legacy both on and off the field and is always looking for new ways to make a difference at George Washington High School and in the community. Get involved today and help support this worthy cause.