Judy Lynn Wright Memorial Fund Marks 20 Years of Helping Watertown Children and Families
- Steve Jurrens
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Ask an eight‑year‑old what they wish for the world, and you’ll hear answers filled with hope: more recess, ice cream for every meal, a puppy, or simply for everyone to be kind. Children have a remarkable way of believing they can make the world better.
For Judy Lynn Wright, an eight‑year‑old whose life ended far too soon, that belief continues to ripple through the Watertown community two decades after her family created a fund in her honor.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Judy Lynn Wright Memorial Fund, established in 2006 at the Watertown Area Community Foundation by Judy’s mother, Linda Fulmer, and stepfather, Todd Fulmer. It was the Foundation’s first donor‑advised fund — and it has grown into a lasting legacy of hope, compassion, and opportunity for children and families.
Remembering Judy
Born February 12, 1959, in Rockford, Illinois, Judy was the daughter of Bill and Linda Wright and sister to Steve, Laurie, and Lisa. Family memories describe her as a bright, happy child who loved music, reading, Brownie troop activities, Sunday School, and even appearing on the children’s television program Nancy’s Romper Room.
Photos show a little girl full of curiosity and joy — riding her spring horse, playing records with her sister, laughing with cousins, and spending time outdoors.
One memory stayed with her mother forever: Judy sitting in a rocking chair, singing along to her favorite group, The Monkees, playing on the stereo. Her father still keeps cherished mementos, including a tiny pink baby shoe and a handwritten Valentine’s Day card.
In April 1967, Judy died unexpectedly from a ruptured appendix. She was eight years old.
Turning Grief Into Good
Nearly forty years later, Linda and Todd sought a way to honor Judy’s memory in a manner that reflected her kindness and the love she brought into their lives.
They created the Judy Lynn Wright Memorial Fund with a simple purpose: to help children.
Linda wrote, “We love and miss her every day and wish to honor her memory by establishing this fund to help children.”
The donor‑advised structure allowed the Fulmers to remain actively involved in recommending grants while building a charitable legacy that would endure for generations. For Todd, contributing to the fund became a personal tradition — marking birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays with gifts that honored Judy and Linda.
The fund also became a milestone for the Watertown Area Community Foundation, demonstrating how families could organize and sustain long‑term charitable giving.
Twenty Years of Impact
Since 2006, the fund has granted more than $25,000 to organizations supporting children and families across the community.
Some grants have met immediate needs. Through the Watertown School District’s Needy School Fund, social workers have been able to help students with essentials so they can come to school ready to learn.
Other grants have provided stability and hope during difficult times. The fund has supported CASA, advocating for children in the court system, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace, ensuring children have a safe bed of their own.
Each grant tells the same story: A child receiving support. A family finding a helping hand. A community honoring the memory of a little girl by making life better for children she never had the chance to meet.
Twenty years later, the fund continues doing exactly what Linda and Todd hoped it would — helping children, one grant at a time.
A Legacy That Lives On
Children believe they can make the world better. Through the Judy Lynn Wright Memorial Fund, Judy still is.
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