OUR STORY
A plan to honor a
larger-than-life figure
The Sunny Mike Foundation was established in 2021 by Co-founders Beth Bigley and Debra Lubberts. The foundation was conceived in honor of the late Michael David Conrad. Everything about ‘Big Mike’ was larger than life; he stood well over six feet tall, and combined with his booming deep voice, there wasn’t a room he didn’t fill out. Growing up, Mike’s mother always called him “Sunny Jim” as a nickname, and here at the foundation we thought it was a terrifically apt way to capture both our mission, and his even bigger heart and spirit. Although Michael died before his time, he was a wonderful brother to Beth and superb father to Deb, and he impacted their lives profoundly while he was with us.
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.”- HENRI MATISSE
Who is Sunny Mike?
Unfortunately, throughout his later years he lived daily with chronic back pain. He tried just about everything to free himself from the ailment, but treatments only seemed to work for a little while. Every program that he tried eventually failed or required more funding for him to obtain adequate treatment. Despite being stuck in physical pain, he was decidedly focused on what he could do instead of dwelling on what he could not control.
He found refuge, friendships, and a home away from home with other veterans at his local VFW. With this in mind, we have created The Sunny Mike Foundation to fill any gaps in need that veterans and their families may find themselves facing. Mike was just one man, but he made an impact wherever he could. In turn, our mission is to connect to one veteran at time, focusing on the individual and to be a dear friend in their time of need.
Our inspiration for The Sunny Mike Foundation is Michael David Conrad. Michael served honorably in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam conflict. When he was drafted, he swore to the officers that he would do all that he could to help, but he couldn’t bear the thought of hurting another person. He was assigned a Morse code communications role to remotely support submarines and discovered both a love for and a gift in the skill.
Once back home, Mike went on to lead a peaceful and joyful life. He had a daughter, Debra, and eventually lived in warm and sunny Florida with his wife and partner, Glenda. Everyone that knew him thought he was a hardworking and gentle giant, who was always happy to help out those in need with a cheerful spirit. His family and friends delighted in his humor, laughter and kind nature.
We pledge to shine Mike’s light on veterans across Western N.Y.
The Sunny Mike Foundation recognizes that there is tremendous work to be done to aid the large community of veterans in the United States. We want to make a legacy of Micheal Conrad’s life through connecting veterans to grants, resources, community and care, so that others might elevate themselves in ways he no longer can. Through our work, we make sure that the veterans we serve can also pay-it-forward to others by helping their community in profound ways.
And just like Mike, one step at a time, one person at a time, we can transform what it means to be a veteran. Mike’s love and compassion were immense, and everyone that met him felt like he was their best friend. We hope to follow in his footsteps and brighten the lives of veterans for years to come.