Mission: To provide safety equipment to all high school aged drivers
The Gabriel Douglas Anthony 21 foundation information
Why The Gabriel Douglas Anthony 21 Foundation
On Friday, December 15, 2023, Gabriel (known to everyone as Gabe) spent the day doing what he loved—snowboarding with friends at Waterville Valley Ski Resort. That evening, while driving home, his car broke down on Route 93 South in Sanbornton, NH. Gabe safely pulled into the breakdown lane, turned on his emergency flashers, and called for a tow truck. As he waited, working on his car, another vehicle struck his disabled car at high speed.
Gabe was killed instantly. He was just 24 years old.
Fast forward to Friday, March 4, 2024—Gabe’s father, Rick Anthony, a teacher at Pittsfield Middle High School, overheard a conversation in his 11th-grade advisory group. The students were sharing stories about their own car breakdowns. Curious, Mr. Anthony asked if any of them carried LED roadside flares in their vehicles. Not one student did. In fact, none of them even knew what they were.
Realizing the gap in young drivers' preparedness, Mr. Anthony immediately purchased a set of three LED roadside flares for each of his ten advisees. At that moment, he had an epiphany: Every young driver should have LED roadside flares because it’s not a matter of if their car will break down—it’s when.
From this realization, the Gabriel Douglas Anthony 21 Foundation was born. Its mission is simple yet vital: to equip young drivers with LED roadside flares, raise awareness about roadside safety, and prevent future tragedies like the one that took Gabe’s life.
Why The Gabriel Douglas Anthony 21 year in review
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Gabriel Douglas Anthony 21 Foundation, we’re humbled and grateful for the overwhelming support and impact we’ve experienced. What began as a way to honor Gabe’s memory and promote roadside safety has quickly grown into a mission-driven movement. Here’s what we’ve accomplished in our first year:
GDA 21 Foundation Website Launch - On July 7, 2024, we launched our official website and shared Gabe's story, our mission, and our call to action. The response was immediate and heartfelt - with donations ranging from $5 to $5,000 pouring in from supporters near and far, Visit our website: www.gda21foundation.org
GDA 21 Foundation Fundraisers:
NH Muscle Car Summer Sizzler Car Show - We were honored to be the featured non-profit, where—with help from Mr. Anthony’s Advisory students—we sold LED flares and t-shirts, raffled a $100 Diomede’s gift card, and received proceeds from the event’s 50/50 raffle.
Pittsfield Hot Air Balloon Rally - The GDA 21 Foundation had a booth set-up at the Rally for Friday evening and all day Saturday. Again with the help of Mr. Anthony’s Advisory students, we sold flares, t-shirts, and had a raffle for a $100 gift certificate to Diomedes Restaurant.
Diomede’s Restaurant Sunday Dinner Fundraiser - A community gathering with a purpose! Diomede’s sold out for Sunday dinner, with proceeds supporting our work. Our student volunteers also ran a flare sales table.
Farmington vs Pittsfield Basketball Game - The Farmington Athletic Department generously donated all 50/50 raffle and collected donations during the game, benefiting the Foundation
Gabriel Douglas Anthony 21 Foundation in the media:
We’ve been fortunate to have our mission amplified by local media:
- WMUR Channel 9 Feature:
A moving piece on Gabe’s legacy and the Foundation’s work
Watch here
- Ball603 / Hoop603 Article:
“Remembering Gabe” – a story of love, loss, and legacy
Read here
- Student-Produced Video:
Mr. Anthony’s Advisory created a heartfelt YouTube video for use in our presentations.
Watch here
GDA 21 Foundation School and Community Presentations:
We’ve had the honor of presenting to seven high schools, two driver’s education programs, and at two basketball games, distributing thousands of 3-packs of LED Roadside Flares.
High Schools:
- Sunapee High School
- Pittsfield Middle High School
- Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
- Prospect Mountain High School
- Belmont High School
- Colebrook Academy
- Plymouth Regional High School
Drivers Education Classes:
- Tri-City Driving School
- Deerfield Driving School
Basketball Games:
GDA 21 Foundation did a short presentation and handed out the 3-packs of the LED Roadside Flares to athletes at 2 basketball games:
- Pittsfield @ Farmington (Boys & Girls Varsity)
- St. Thomas @ Belmont (Varsity Boys)
Special Thanks:
To the students in Mr. Anthony’s Advisory:
Abby Hodgdon, Addie Clark, Brayden Pelletier, Elias Gates, Jared Landry, Eli McNeil, Mable Johnson, Caleb Cassin, and Cam Witham—your time, effort, and heart made this possible. I will miss you all and wish you nothing but success in the future.
A heartfelt thank you to Mackenzie Phillips, who attended our Deerfield Driving School presentation and used her creative expertise to refresh and elevate our slideshow. Your contribution was deeply appreciated.
GDA 21 Foundation Goals
The foundation’s mission is clear: to equip young drivers with LED roadside flares and promote roadside safety, so that no family has to endure the grief and pain that the Anthony family and the entire Pittsfield community have suffered.
As Rick Anthony puts it:
"If this foundation makes it so one family does not have to experience what we have gone through, it means Gabe's death was not in vain."
Become a GDA21 Foundation Hero
Support Our Programs
Our goal is to be able to give a set of 3 LED Roadside Flares to every high school aged driver in New Hampshire
Spread the Word
Help us raise awareness about our cause by sharing our mission with your friends, co-workers, and family.
Join Our Team
Join Our Team
If you're passionate about making a difference, join our team and become part of the GDA21 Foundation family. We're always looking for dedicated individuals and companies to help us achieve our goals.
Partnerships:
If you, your business, or you know a business that might want to partner with the Gabriel Douglas Anthony 21 Foundation, please email us at GDA21Foundation@gmail.com
Current Partners:
Pittsfield Police Association
Pittsfield Fire Department
Azotea Electric
NH Muscle Cars
Bergeron Fire Protection Equipment
Alpha Graphics
Speed Tech Lights
MSA/Globe Mfg
Strength and Power Massage