Our Story
From GriefTo Grace. The Story Behind Hallyboy Foundation
A Brother's Legacy. A Sister's Love. A Mission That Lives On.
Some organizations begin with a plan. Others begin with a moment that changes everything.
In loving memory
HAL
“Hallyboy”
Spergel
1956–2011
His generosity helped shape the Foundation's purpose.
For Hallyboy Foundation, that moment came in March 2011, when Maxyne Bursky lost her younger brother, Hal Spergel.
Known affectionately to Maxyne by his childhood nickname, Hallyboy, Hal was a man whose generosity extended well beyond his family. He believed in helping children feel included, valued, and equipped to participate.
What began as a family's profound loss would become a charitable mission inspired by his compassion.
01 / A brother's legacy
The Brother Behind the Name
Long before there was a foundation, there was Hal.
To his family, Hal Spergel was a beloved brother, uncle, and friend. To Maxyne, his older sister, he was simply Hallyboy— a nickname she had given him when they were children.
Hal had a special place in his heart for young people.
He was actively involved in youth baseball and understood how something as simple as a team uniform could help children feel that they belonged.
When he learned that some young baseball teams could not afford uniforms, Hal quietly purchased them so the children could participate alongside their peers.
He did not seek recognition or applause. He saw a need and chose to help.
Years later, that simple expression of generosity would inspire a charitable mission bearing his childhood nickname.
02 / March 2011
The Day Everything Changed
In March 2011, Maxyne was in Washington, D.C., helping celebrate a close friend's birthday when she received devastating news: Hal had been rushed to a hospital in New York and was critically ill.
She immediately rented a car and began the journey to reach him.
While traveling along the New Jersey Turnpike, her husband, Richard, called and urged her to pull over.
It was then that Maxyne learned her younger brother had passed away.
The loss was sudden and heartbreaking.
The weeks that followed were filled with grief, family responsibilities, and the painful realization that life would never be quite the same.
Yet even in the midst of that sorrow, an unexpected opportunity to honor Hal's memory was beginning to take shape.
03 / Finding purpose
Finding Purpose Through Service
At the time, Maxyne and Richard were participating in life-coaching training through SourcePoint.
Although they considered withdrawing following Hal's death, they were encouraged to continue.
As part of their training, participants were challenged to develop a philanthropic project that could make a positive difference.
That assignment introduced them to Casey, a young teacher seeking assistance for students whose families faced financial hardship.
Many of the children needed basic school supplies — everyday essentials that other students might take for granted.
Maxyne, Richard, and fellow participants responded by helping provide 33 backpacks filled with school supplies in 2011.
Recorded in 2011
The small project became known informally as Casey's Kids.
Seeing the children's excitement and appreciation brought Maxyne an unexpected sense of purpose.
It reminded her of Hal.
Just as her brother had helped young baseball players feel included by providing uniforms, she had discovered a way to help children approach their education with the supplies they needed.
Through service to others, a new way of honoring his memory began to emerge.
04 / 2012
How Hallyboy Foundation Was Born
Maxyne began thinking about how the spirit behind that first classroom project could become something lasting.
She remembered Hal's quiet generosity and his willingness to help children without expecting anything in return.
The connection felt deeply personal.
In 2012, Hallyboy Foundation was established in his honor.
The name was more than a tribute. It was the childhood nickname Maxyne had given her little brother — a name filled with memories, affection, and love.
Through the Foundation, that name became a symbol of compassion and service.
What began as a sister's desire to honor her brother grew into an organization dedicated to helping children access essential educational resources.
A simple act of generosity can help someone feel seen, supported, and valued.
05 / Service in action
Turning Compassion Into Action
The Foundation's early charitable activities focused on providing backpacks, school supplies, and books to children in need.
Over the years, its documented work expanded to include classroom library books, personal hygiene essentials, winter accessories, and community-supported distribution efforts.
Historical records document assistance provided through schools and community organizations in multiple states.
Behind every distribution is the same principle that inspired the Foundation's creation:
A simple act of generosity can help someone feel seen, supported, and valued.
A backpack is more than a collection of notebooks and pencils. It can provide a child with the materials needed to participate in classroom activities while offering practical assistance to a family.
These acts of service reflect Hal's belief that helping others does not always require grand gestures.
Sometimes, making a difference begins by noticing what someone needs and choosing to help.
06 / A family legacy
A Family Legacy That Continues
Hallyboy Foundation began with a sister's love for her younger brother and a family's determination to transform grief into meaningful service.
Maxyne and Richard Bursky helped turn that inspiration into a charitable organization built around the importance of kindness, dignity, and opportunity.
Hal's memory remains at the heart of the Foundation's identity.
But his example reaches beyond one family.
It can be reflected in every volunteer who helps prepare supplies, every supporter who contributes resources, and every community member who believes children deserve encouragement and opportunity.
The Foundation's story is not simply about what was lost.
It is about the good that can grow when people choose to carry someone's kindness forward.
07 / His name. His spirit.
His Name. His Spirit. A Legacy of Giving.
Hal “Hallyboy” Spergel (1956–2011) inspired a mission rooted in compassion.
His generosity helped shape its purpose.
His childhood nickname continues to remind the Foundation why that purpose matters.
What began with heartbreak became an opportunity to honor his life through service to children.
Hallyboy Foundation exists to carry kindness forward — one child, one school, and one act of generosity at a time.
08 / Our story, still being written
Be Part of the Story.
The Hallyboy story began with one person's kindness.
Its next chapter can be shaped by everyone who chooses to help.
Whether through charitable giving, volunteering, or connecting with the Foundation, there are meaningful ways to support its mission.