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Riley Basford Legacy Grant to provide meaningful experience to St. Lawrence County youth

Posted 8/4/22

POTSDAM — The Riley Basford Legacy Grant will go to the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau to support safe and meaningful experiences for local youths. Basford was a student at Potsdam Central High …

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Riley Basford Legacy Grant to provide meaningful experience to St. Lawrence County youth

Posted

POTSDAM — The Riley Basford Legacy Grant will go to the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau to support safe and meaningful experiences for local youths.

Basford was a student at Potsdam Central High School who tragically took his own life after being extorted as part of a sextortion campaign by evil actors online, according to officials with the State Police and Department of Homeland Security.

A remembrance event was held this past spring at Canton Central School for Basford and two other students who tragically took their own lives as a result of similar events.

Officials sought to warn parents and students alike about the dangers of sextortion campaigns, as well as viral TikTok challenges.

Such challenges have led to many injuries and deaths due to the nature of the challenges that have included asphyxiation.

“The mission behind the Riley Basford Legacy Fund is to provide youth with safe and meaningful experiences throughout their lives and in the communities,” Youth Bureau Director Alexa Backus Case said of the grant.

The Youth Committee sponsored a view and art work contest as part of the 2022 YB Teen Suicide Prevention and Extortion Campaign. Two winners were selected for videos they submitted as part of the contest and will receive $50 each.