Thursday, October 15, 2026
In an effort to build a pair of turf fields in memory of William Desroches — the Wantagh High School student who died in a watercraft accident in 2023 — friends, family and supporters kicked off their first fundraiser on Thursday.
Launched in January, the William Desroches Foundation was created to raise funds for new turf fields for soccer and lacrosse next to Forest Lake Elementary School’s baseball field. According to Donald Desroches, William’s father, his son played on the field at Forest Lake, inspiring him to approach the Wantagh School District about constructing and naming the new fields in his memory.
The foundation’s first fundraiser, held at Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh, featured live music by the band Vinyl Revival, auctions and a raffle to support the project. More than 150 people attended the fundraiser, Desroches said, which raised around $12,000 toward the memorial fields.
For Desroches, the event was a great celebration to honor his son and to talk about what kind of person he was.
“I really felt grateful and appreciative that everyone took time out of their day to honor William and help with the fundraising cause,” Desroches said.
Assisting with the fundraiser was John Theissen, founder and executive director of the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit that aids sick and underprivileged children.
On Aug. 6, 2023, William, 15, and another teenager were riding personal watercraft on Crescent Lake in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. At some point, New Hampshire police said, one of the riders slowed down, and the other collided with him from behind. William was rushed to a hospital, where he died. The other teen was not hurt.
William’s mother, Kathryn Walsh, and his father told the Herald in 2023 that their son was fiercely determined and excelled at numerous outdoor activities, including soccer and lacrosse.
Desroches said the foundation has received approval from John McNamara, the Wantagh School District’s superintendent, and school board to raise around $1.2 million for the project. He estimated it would take “a year or two” to raise the money.
“The fact that I’ll be able to have something here in his memory that will last for a while is really amazing to me,” Desroches said.
The planned state-of-the-art turf fields will serve students, local sports teams and the broader Wantagh community. Designed for soccer and lacrosse, the fields will offer a durable, weather-resistant surface that can be used year-round. According to the foundation’s website, the turf will also provide a safer playing surface engineered specifically for sports.
Raising money for the new fields will be a challenge, Desroches said, but friends and family are determined to create a lasting legacy for William that will benefit future generations.
He added that more fundraising events are in the works, including a one-hour “Launch-A-Thon” telethon on June 1, hosted by Leading Edge Fundraising, a national organization that supports such efforts. In the coming months, the foundation also plans to host a pickleball tournament, a 5K run, an outdoor field day and a rock concert featuring Wantagh High School seniors.
Proceeds from the events will support the foundation’s effort to build the new turf fields in William’s memory.
During the foundation’s announcement at Forest Lake in January, State Sen. Steve Rhoads praised Desroches for launching the initiative and commended the family’s determination to honor William’s memory.
“In the face of an incredible tragedy, (family members) have tried to use that loss as an opportunity to do something positive for future generations,” Rhoads said. “It’s really inspirational.”
Desroches added that he looks forward to providing a space where students and community members can engage in sporting events, especially when it becomes a place that memorializes his son.
“It’ll be an honor to have my son’s name on the field,” he said.
For more information and to donate to the William Desroches Foundation, visit williamunited.org.
