(Blatantly plagiarized from the Nerdery Blog)

There are only good ways to honor the memory of Nick, Nate, Noah and Luke Bucklin. Here’s another: Buy something cool for a kid you’ll probably never know, and know that your gift will make their holiday season better (yours, too). We’re collecting presents geared toward kids ages 12-14 in remembrance of Nick (14), Nate (14), Noah (12) and Luke (forever 40, going on about 14). Toys for Tots historically has fulfilled unmet needs for gifts for boys and girls in their early teens.

Today, we - Ginger, Sarah, Samantha, Oliver and Michelle, along with friends and family - are honoring Luke, Nate, Nick and Noah Bucklin on this, the anniversary of their deaths.
We are touched by all the love and support we've received (thanks for wearing blue!). We can feel the power of your countless prayers. And, we are comforted by all of the memories you share.
But, we are also celebrating our boys' lives and passion for community, technology and family through the newly forming Bucklin Family Foundation (www.BFF.mn).

Tomorrow, on December 16th, 2010, Nick and Nate would have turned 15 years old.

We had many hopes for the boys during their 15th year. They both would have started driving. They'd start thinking about colleges. Nick would have bought the car that he was saving for. Nate would have tried out for the Southwest basketball and track teams.

And yet, now we turn our thoughts to their memories and honoring the bright, wonderful kids they are.

Here are some ways you can help honor Nick & Nate on their 15th birthday:

- Wear Blue for the Bucklins B-Day on Thursday, December 16th, 2010. Special thanks to the Kinneys for organizing this!

This holiday season, to help honor the Bucklin Boys, I'm hoping you'll join the Toys for Tots drive started by Nerdery alumnus Mitch Buckland. We're rallying the Twin Cities community to donate gifts for youth between the ages of 12 and 14, in honor of Nick (14), Nate (14), Noah (12) and Luke (40, going on about 14).

Historically, Toys for Tots receives ample gifts for small children – actual tots – but struggles to fulfill the unmet needs of underserved early teens. But not this year, eh?

For those who haven't yet seen the awesome memorial at the Nerdery, check out Lego Luke.

To me, this is a perfect example of someone using their gifts to impact the world. Too often, we try to learn new skills in an effort to make a difference. Our human nature leads us to focus on what we don't know, what we can't affect, and what we'd do if given more resources.

But, Dan Piscitiello - who created Lego Luke - shows us that the best things, the most meaningful actions, come from within us. There is so much that we can do, by using our passion to impact what we can control.