Standout Spartan: Patrick Bulger '32

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulger family, like many others, found themselves spending more time in nature, frequenting the community beach down the street from their home on the Potomac River in Heathsville, Virginia. Since they acquired the house in 2014, the family has watched erosion take its toll on their beloved getaway. Worse, the homeowners' association couldn't agree on whether or not to continue funding a breakwater that would prevent further erosion. First grader Patrick Bulger, upon learning that the beach was in danger of eroding away completely, asked what he could do to help to keep the project moving.

"We told him to take action if he wanted things to be different," his mother, Mary Lou Bulger, said. "So he did!"

After contemplating a T-shirt fundraiser, the Bulgers brainstormed a few other options that they thought would tell a more captivating message. Their solution was to use the beach itself — or part of it — to tell the story.

With help from his younger brother, Patrick began collecting driftwood that he then painted with inspirational "Save the Beach" messages to rally the community around funding the breakwater. His mother said the community buy-in was swift.

"We started getting unsolicited donations and realized our little quarantine project was really affecting people," Mrs. Bulger said.

Aside from some help with the wording, Patrick was in charge of the whole operation, including collecting, designing, and painting the driftwood, even delivering some of the pieces in his own battery-powered vehicle. Community members were so captivated by the driftwood art that they donated money to fund the breakwater installation with every piece he completed. Through Labor Day, the family raised roughly $1,850 to donate toward the breakwater's second phase, which is already underway and progressing.

"This got so much bigger than we ever imagined," Mrs. Bulger said. "But I guess that's a good thing!"