The Joel Burchfield Memorial Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (#84-2648506) dedicated to helping our youth achieve their dreams through higher education by awarding scholarships to high school seniors. The organization was created by Dan and Laura Burchfield after their 11-year-old son, Joel, tragically passed away in a drowning accident in 1996. Joel's Spirit lives on through the gift of these scholarships to inspire others because of supporters, community members, and businesses like you.


The first Joel Spirit Walk began in 2015 and was born from a need to support this scholarship fund. That's when Dan decided to walk 105 miles along the Pacific Coast Highway as a tribute to Joel and as a way to raise donations for support. Now in its 9th year, The Joel Spirit Walk regularly has people participate in-person and virtually, and continues to bring awareness to the power of community while building a lasting legacy. Since then, over $50,000 in scholarships have been awarded to Moorpark High School Seniors, and a new branch of giving through "Joel's Angels" has also been formed to support youth in sports.


The Joel Burchfield Memorial Fund and the Spirit Walk keep dreams alive for the Burchfield Family and students embarking on their own journeys towards higher education, and this is only possible through support from the community and local businesses. Please review the Sponsorship Form and reach out with any questions. Thank you in advance for your contribution; we are gracious for your consideration to help keep Joel's Spirit alive!