{{Short description|American activist (1997–2008)}} {{similar names|Brendan Foster|Brandon Foster}} {{Infobox person |name = Brenden Foster |image = |birth_name = Brenden Stephen Foster |birth_date = {{birth date|1997|10|04|mf=yes}} |birth_place = |death_date = {{death date and age|2008|11|21|1997|10|04|mf=yes}} |death_place = Bothell, Washington, U.S. |death_cause = Leukemia |known_for = The Brenden Foster Food Drive}}
'''Brenden Stephen Foster''' (October 4, 1997 – November 21, 2008) was an 11-year-old boy from Bothell, Washington, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2005. KOMO, a local broadcasting station, reported the story of Brenden's last wish on November 7, 2008, which was to feed the homeless.<ref name="Brenden1">{{cite web|url=http://www.komonews.com/news/local/34127439.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112093753/http://www.komonews.com/news/local/34127439.html|archive-date=November 12, 2008|title=Boy shares heartbreaking last wish|access-date=November 7, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The story inspired many, and prompted attention from national media such as CNN<ref>{{cite web|title=CNN Newsroom: California in Blazes; Endeavour Docks with the ISS; A Dying Wish|publisher=CNN|date=November 18, 2008|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/cnr/date/2008-11-18/segment/02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424050955/http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0811/18/cnr.02.html|archive-date=April 24, 2009|access-date=April 2, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Associated Press, even drawing international attention.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vân|first=Thùy|title=Giấc mơ mang tên Brenden|language=Vietnamese|publisher=VOV News|date=November 30, 2008|url=http://vovnews.vn/Home/Giac-mo-mang-ten-Brenden/200811/100211.vov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206024539/http://vovnews.vn/Home/Giac-mo-mang-ten-Brenden/200811/100211.vov|archive-date=December 6, 2008|access-date=April 2, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise paid for Brenden's funeral; he is buried at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.<ref name="Brenden5"/>
==Local impact== The Brenden Foster Food Drive was created by the broadcasting station in his honor.<ref name="Brenden2">{{cite web|url=https://paytrace.com/cart/donate.pay?ID=1528&MID=27250021602801&PID=Donation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131230945/http://paytrace.com/cart/donate.pay?ID=1528&MID=27250021602801&PID=Donation|archive-date=January 31, 2009|title=Brenden Foster Food Drive|access-date=November 7, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Seattle, volunteers from the Emerald City Lights Bike Ride passed out over 200 sandwiches to the homeless. Inspired viewers took part in the "Stuff the Truck" food drive in Brenden's honor, filling seven trucks of groceries and $95,000 in cash to benefit the Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline.<ref>{{cite web|author=Elisa Jaffe|url=http://www.komonews.com/news/34851839.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201114551/http://www.komonews.com/news/34851839.html|archive-date=December 1, 2008|title=Brenden Foster: 'I had a great time'|access-date=November 21, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Broader impact== Brenden's story also reached KOMO's sister station KATU (Portland, Oregon), which reported actions inspired by Brenden in Los Angeles, California and Pensacola, Florida, among other places.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katu.com/news/34917279.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020004850/http://www.katu.com/news/34917279.html|archive-date=October 20, 2014|title=Brenden Foster: 'I had a great time' (KATU-TV)|access-date=November 21, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, for instance, over 2,500 meals have been served in Brenden's name.<ref name="Karlinsky">{{cite web|author=Neal Karlinsky|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/Story?id=6325558&page=1|work=ABC News|title=Dying Boy Makes Final Wish to Feed Homeless|date=2008-11-24}}</ref> His advocacy for the homeless housed in tent cities continues to be remembered. A Vietnam War veteran from Kentucky who lost his leg in the war was so touched by the story, he gave Brenden his Purple Heart.<ref name="Brenden5">{{cite web|url=http://www.komonews.com/news/34498624.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004045243/http://www.komonews.com/news/34498624.html|archive-date=October 4, 2011|title=Brenden Foster: 'I could have done more'|access-date=November 26, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> More than 2,500 meals at the Union Rescue Mission have been served in Brenden's name.<ref name="Karlinsky"/>
==See also== *Stephen Sutton – British teenager with terminal bowel cancer who raised millions for charity
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Brenden}} Category:1997 births Category:2008 deaths Category:People from Bothell, Washington Category:Deaths from leukemia in Washington (state) Category:Deaths from acute lymphocytic leukemia Category:Place of birth missing Category:Charity fundraisers (people) Category:21st-century American philanthropists