What’s New with Let Goodness Shine
Written by Don Byrne (AI Free)
Greetings. I wanted to share some exciting news and long overdue updates regarding myself and Let Goodness Shine.
In September 2025, I shifted careers leaving cybersecurity after roughly 20 years. Losing Joel put my “career” on a different trajectory. Quite frankly, I just didn’t have the fire in my belly to continue down the same road.
I don’t look at this as retirement. Rather, a career shift. What my next career looks like has been rattling around in my mind and very much part of my prayers over the past three years. In the depths of my grief, while on my knees drowning in tears, I cried out to the Lord. I told Him I’d do anything, whatever He needs. I begged and pleaded for Him to make it known to me. It is this promise that puts me on the path to serve God as best I can.
Since then, it’s been a slow and painful journey with clarity building little by little. Along the way, this journey has given me a much different perspective. More specifically, it’s allowed me to view my past “problems” through a different lens. Today I see a stark divide between those problems and the ones that so many face today. The problems that challenge people’s ability to function or provide for their family. Further, this journey has brought to light how I might be able to help. Among other objectives, Let Goodness Shine will serve as a means to help alleviate some of the problems of survival faced by many in our own communities and across the country.
Soon, we will be rolling out some updates with the Let Goodness Foundation. Updates to our mission, vision, goals, and where we want to take the foundation in the near and long term. We believe that doing good and seeing good in others is paramount. There are too many people facing problems of survival for us to withhold our own goodness. For each good work, no matter how big or small, creates ripples of goodness that can impact generations to come.
Along with these updates, we will be unveiling a new website and logo for Let Goodness Shine that will better communicate our message. Stay tuned and make sure to follow us on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letgoodnessshine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letgoodnessshine/
I look forward to dedicating much more time to the foundation and its principles in 2026 and beyond. Thank you so much for reading and subscribing.
2025 Fundraising Updates
We are very excited to announce that we have surpassed $150K in donated funds. Ultimately, I believe we will go much further. In part, it is because the principals Joel left us are priceless. There is too much need and too much goodness available to share. The core concepts and tenants of this foundation are needed needed now more than ever.
Good Works Projects
The idea of the Good Works Projects started shortly after Joel’s passing. Right out of the gates, my colleagues at Check Point organized a worldwide “What Would Joel Do” week of service to honor Joel’s life. It was an amazing effort that really spoke to the idea that goodness exists in all of us.
In addition, the Knights of Columbus Council 8600 honored Joel by naming him “Young Man of the Year” posthumously. They also established the annual “Joel Byrne Memorial Scholarship”.
Likewise, the Clifton Betterment Association honored Joel by renaming their annual scholarship ” The Joel Byrne CBA Academic Scholarship”.
The Joel Byrne CBA Scholarship has been established to recognize a child of a Clifton Betterment Association member who has made significant Clifton community contributions by exhibiting the values of charity, courage, and/or dedication.
— The Clifton Betterment Association
Aim High flag football, a youth sports program in Northern Virginia, also honored Joel with the creation of the “Joel Byrne Memorial Sportsmanship Award”.
We want to honor the way Joel approached not only sports but life as well. Joel was a good sport, an amazing person, and a great teammate. Please help us keep Joel’s light shining bright now and into the future. We will choose the final candidates in each division and ask they be present at the Super Bowl where we will award them.
We hold dear to our hearts this endeavor—to keep Joel Byrne’s light shining now and forever—and to constantly remind us all that respect for each other, fairness in competition, and good sportsmanship are always the most important values to share.
—Aim High Flag Football
These independent acts to honor Joel, and so many others, are the basis for the Let Goodness Shine Good Works projects. Beyond serving as a way to honor Joel and provide some heeling, they encourage goodness in others. They demonstrate that sharing goodness and performing good works is possible in all of us. In even the smallest of acts.
Upcoming Projects
Robinson Boys Soccer – Buy a Bag, Clean the Earth – Open to All
Join the Robinson Boys Varsity Soccer team in honoring the life and legacy of beloved teammate & friend Joel Byrne — a passionate steward of the environment. .During the month of April, celebrate Earth Day by using your bag to pick up trash in neighborhoods, parks or any public space. Proceeds benefit the Let Goodness Shine Foundation & Robinson boys’ soccer program. Purchase your bags at any boys’ soccer game/practice -OR- online here: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSdQTLWgR7g…/viewform… Send your clean up pictures and questions to: RoboBoysSoccer@gmail.com |  |
1st Annual McNamara Family Golf Tournament (4/30 ***SIGN UP SOON***)
| On April 30th, McNamara Family of restaurants (Main Street Pub in Clifton, McNamara’s Pub and Restaurant, and Preston’s Pub. will be hosting their 1st Annual Golf Tournament. Proceeds go to benefit Let Goodness Shine and Medina14 Foundation. Anticipate a great event and even better competition :). For details on how to register to play, sponsor or volunteer, visit the tournament website. **ALSO INVITING SPONSORS TO PARTICIPATE** |  |
2025 Good Works Projects
Clifton Cup Raises 10K for LGS
In late September 2025, the Clifton Betterment hosted the Clifton Cup, a community fundraiser for local nonprofits. This year, Let Goodness Shine was one of the beneficiaries. The event was a huge success with over 100 golfers. Thank you to those that participated.
Thank you to the sponsors who provided AMAZING food Marcus Silva (Villagio Hospitality Group) and Greg and Patrick Young (Clifton Café).
The Clifton Cup committee (Steve B, Vern K, Jeff S, Jo O) worked tirelessly putting this together and the Registration Staff (Jean P, Ginny K, Michelle S, and Linda D) executed to perfection.
Special thanks to the Town of Clifton Mayor, Tom Peterson and Jean Peterson (Peterson’s Ice Cream) for a ton of work behind the scenes.
As a result of all these efforts and contributions, Let Goodness Shine received a donation in the amount of $10,000.
House of Mercy Clothing Drive
In December, we held a clothing drive to benefit the House of Mercy as part of our Good Works Project. The results of our drive was impressive with over 20 families donating piles of cloths, enough to fill up our minivan completely.
I didn’t get a great picture of total collection, just one in the car and a great one of me bringing the collection into the donation center :).
Thank you to those that provided their cloths to support a good cause
Knights of Columbus Blood Drive
In June 2025, we teamed up with Inova and St. Mary’s Catholic Church to host a blood drive in Joel’s honor. We chose this project in the hope of inspiring many of Joel’s teenage friends to become lifelong blood donors.
This event turned out to be one of the more successful blood drives. In total, we registered 46 donors and collected 42 whole blood and 6 red cells for a total of 48 blood products. Your selflessness has given hope to countless lives and brought solace to families in need.
We’re deeply grateful to the St. Mary of Sorrows Chapter, Knights of Columbus, Inova and the SUDC Foundation for their ongoing support and the use of their beautiful “Love Beyond Reason” banner.
You can read Monica’s write up about this event on the SUDC website or the Knights of Columbus summary on FB.
Social
We have started sharing excerpts from Joel’s gratitude on the Let Goodness Shine Facebook page. Instagram to follow soon. Please follow it for updates on goodness.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letgoodnessshine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letgoodnessshine/