We believe in change
Our flagship initiative, the Patrick Boswell Courage Award (PBCA), honors the legacy of Patrick Boswell by recognizing and empowering students who demonstrate exceptional courage in resisting gangs, violence, and harmful influences. The PBCA provides financial support to help these students pursue extracurricular activities that foster personal growth and a brighter future.
Through the Patrick Lives On Film Collective, we engage diverse voices in the creation of impactful short films and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that address critical issues affecting communities. These films serve as catalysts for social change, empowering individuals to use their voices in the fight for justice, peace, and healing.
The Patrick Lives On Annual Film Showcase and Fundraiser brings together community members and corporate partners to celebrate the power of storytelling, raise awareness, and drive meaningful conversations that promote social responsibility and collective action.
At Patrick Lives On, we honor Patrick Boswell’s legacy by using film as a tool for community transformation, encouraging individuals to stand strong, speak out, and make a lasting impact.
Patrick Lives On stands by its motto: Be Strong. Use Words. Not Violence.
Patrick Lives On believes every child deserves an opportunity to live a positive and productive life.
We are committed to:
- Establishing the PBCA throughout Chicagoland
- Raising funds to help Chicago area at-risk teens participate in positive and life-affirming activities
Every $500 donation gives a child the opportunity to participate in an extra-curricular activity of their choice.
Board of Directors
Patricia Frontain, President
Patricia was the Script Supervisor for the first 11 seasons of NBC’s Chicago PD. She is also a Director/Producer of various film projects throughout Chicago. In 2016, one year after the death of her son, Patrick, she coupled her 30+ years of experience in the Chicago Film Industry and her business sense as a past owner of Long Grove Carriage, Inc. and created Patrick Lives On.
Her love for her son and her passion to help the children of Chicago stay busy and safe have made Patrick Lives On flourish into a productive and viable organization very quickly. When not running Patrick Lives On or working on films, Patricia is an active Mom, spending time with her daughter Zoe.
Mikayla Tolen, Treasurer
Mikayla Tolen is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She currently works as an IVF nurse at Vios Fertility Institute.
Mikayla is originally from the small town of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She decided to move to Chicago to further her education. After moving to Chicago, she quickly became aware of the immense issue of gun violence within the city.
Mikayla piloted a fundraising event on Facebook for Patrick Lives On a few years ago raising funds to help the organization. She accepted a board position and has been part of the team ever since.
Walt Smith, Officer
As a Small business owner, he hired and worked with troubled youths and convicted felons. As the Police, he has worked in the lower-income communities. First, on the south side in Englewood and then the west side in Fillmore (Garfield Park).
As a Patrolman and a Detective, Walt has seen firsthand the senseless loss of life that faces many of our youth today. Working with Patrick Lives On extends his commitment to showing our youth another way to live their lives and solve problems without the use of violence.
For the last thirty years, Walt has been a small business owner, an electronics technician, and a Law Enforcement Officer.
J.P. Mcallister, Officer
J.P. is a Chicago based actor and comedian. He has appeared in over a dozen films and also has done stand-up comedy around Chicago for over nine years.
As a child, J.P. was bounced around to different foster families before finally being adopted at the age of 10. At the age of 16, he was tried as an adult on weapons charges and sentenced to 2 years in prison. After a few years of struggling to overcome his childhood experiences, he decided to make a change. He moved to Chicago and began telling his story on stage. He discovered that audiences found his story’s both humorous and inspiring.
After meeting Patricia while filming an episode of Chicago PD and hearing of Patrick Lives On and the story of her son’s tragic murder, J.P. knew he wanted to do all he could to help.
J.P. brings to the table firsthand experience and insight into the struggles that so many teenagers from all different backgrounds face.
Advisors
Ken Boudreau, Police and Gang Liason
Ken is the CEO of the Embassy Security Group, a multi-state corporation. He holds a Master’s of Science in Public Safety Administration and is currently a Doctoral student in Global Security.
Ken retired from the Chicago Police Department and the US Army Reserve serving in a myriad of senior-level assignments e.g. Commanding Officer of the Chicago’s Police Departments Criminal Enterprise Section and as the Aide to Camp and Protective Service Officer for the Commanding General of Army Central Command- Engineer Forces, among others. Ken is a member of Federal Bureau of Investigation InfraGard program and also a member of the US Department of State-Bureau of Diplomatic Security-Overseas Advisory Council. He holds various governmental certifications.
Ken’s proudest achievement was the co-development of a gang intervention program which was studied by the University of Chicago and touted as a model program. He desires to bring this experience to Patrick Live’s On. His firm belief that prevention is the key to understanding and assisting the adolescence population while they deal with violence.
Committees
Marty Rhomberg, Film Showcase Chair
Jeanne Bartells, PBCA Chair
Kim Cruz, PBCA Chair
Martina Scholz, Social Media Video Edits
Board and Committee Alumni
Danelle Sarvas, Event Chair
Kris Glaister – Community Engagement Liason Fundraising Chair
Grace Kennelly – High School Student Liason Fundraising Chair
Kim Piskorowski – Founding Member and Vice President (2016-2018)
Lori Siptrott – Founding Member and Treasurer (2016-2019)
Cynthia Nielsen, Business Advisory
Janice Brady
Our Impact & Beneficiaries
- Algonquin Middle School
- Building Bosses, Inc – Motivational Speaker
- Chippewa Middle School
- Community Consolidated District 62
- Deep Green Earth Day – Spread Peace
- Des Plaines Park District – Camps
- Emcee Skool – Emcee Training
- Englewood Cease Fire – Inspirational Festival
- Girls in the Game – Girls Sports
- Girls Like Me – Sports/Mentoring
- Iroquois Community School
- J-Def Peace Project – Art
- Junior Warriors Football
- Lattof YMCA – Log Rolling Program
- Maine West High School
- Marwen Art School
- Merit School of Music – Violin School
- Not Before My Parents – Chess
- Positive Approach to Teen Health – Counseling
- Shameless – Inspirational
- STEM Program – Des Plaines
- Teamwork Englewood – After School Classes
- Tanya and the Youth of Englewood – After School Programs
- UBU Theater – Touring Theater
- Youth Technology Corps – Computers
The Midwest Independent Film Festival is the USA’s only film festival solely dedicated to Midwest films for Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The Race Against Gun Violence (RAGV) celebrates the life-changing work of community organizations and provides a dynamic platform for people who care about ending gun violence to connect and get involved.
IN MEMORY
Patrick Lives On was established to honor Patrick Boswell, who lost his life to gun violence when he was only 14 years old simply for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Awareness
Patrick Lives On educational films and public service announcements raise awareness about programs that can help break the cycle of violence, to keep our kids safe and engaged.
Change
Patrick Lives On Scholarship Programs encourage children to engage in positive year-round activities to discover their passions and reduce the chance of them being lured into gangs and gun violence.
“If your worst nightmares can come true, so can your wildest dreams.”
Patrick’s Story
1. Meet Patrick
Patrick Raymond Boswell was born at 11:53 am on September 11, 2000. He was a Millennium Baby. His parents, Robert Boswell and Patricia Frontain were overjoyed. They called him “Sweet Pea” and “Special Boy”.
Four years later, Patrick was followed by his sister, Zoe. He and his family were active in their Des Plaines, Illinois community. From Kindergarten through Sixth Grade, Patrick was a Cub Scout. His mother was the Den Leader. During those years, they were present at hundreds of community functions.
He was also active in local sports….playing soccer, basketball, and football. Football was his favorite. He was a team player and excelled at motivating his teammates. He could not wait to play for Maine West High School.
At the age of 13, Patrick walked into a local Auto Mechanics Shop (Pat and Chucks in Des Plaines) and asked for a job. He loved mechanics and tinkering with anything he could get his hands on. He had an innate ability to fix anything mechanical. The owner of the shop was so impressed by his attitude that he gave him a job!
After school, Patrick would work painting, doing yard work and sweeping up the shop. He was in his glory and could not wait to graduate to the next level of being allowed “inside” the shop to learn how to fix cars. Along with playing football, he was eager to take an Auto Mechanics class in High School. He dreamed of owning his own shop, getting married and having four children. He was a good caretaker to all his numerous pets….three dogs, two cats, two birds, a bunny, two hamsters and a snake.
Initially, after Patrick’s death, a local animal rescue organization set up a foundation called Patrick’s Pups. All grieving family, friends, and colleagues were encouraged to donate to the foundation to honor Patrick. Nearly $13,000 was collected in the first six months after his passing to assist the volunteers with their rescue efforts.
Besides football and cars and animals, Patrick was crazy about Nike shoes. He collected them. He bought them, refurbished them and resold them making a profit. In honor of this, many of his friends and family wore Nike shoes at his funeral.
2. The School Years
Kindergarten through Eighth Grade was spent at Iroquois Community School. Since he and his family only lived six blocks from the school, he was often seen walking his sister home with all the neighborhood kids. He was a good big brother to his sister. He was a “protector” at school, always empathizing with his peers and protecting them from bullies. He had many friends and was the self-proclaimed “King of 8th Grade”. He made the girls swoon and the boys want to imitate him. He was beloved by his teachers, although he continuously tried their patience by being the class clown.
Both of his parents came from large families. As a result, Patrick was often going to family parties and celebrating holidays with his many cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Each Christmas his family would travel from Des Plaines to Texas to visit his Mother’s family. His beloved Grandmother and Grandfather were crazy about him. He was their second grandchild and they doted on him. He loved to visit them in the summer and swim all day long in their pool, laughing and having a great time.
Patrick was a “normal” middle-class boy with all the advantages that come with it. A nice community, family, school, and friends. His future was bright.
Christmas of 2014 was his last Christmas with his family. Little did they know, it was the last time that all of his extended family would ever see him.
3. Gone Too Soon
January 2, 2015 was his Mother’s birthday. He sang Happy Birthday after a family dinner. He then begged to go out with his friend. He had been in Texas the previous ten days and wanted to hang with his friend. They were going to play basketball at a local gymnasium.
The gym was near an apartment complex in Rosemont, Illinois. At the apartment complex, there was an argument between two rival gang members. Yes, gang members! Still hard to believe…..In their wonderful neighborhood.
Someone pulled out a gun and shot at their rivals and anyone close by….. Patrick was shot in the neck as he was running away. He was running back home. He died immediately.
Patrick was not able to learn more about Auto Mechanics. He was not able to graduate 8th grade. He was not able to attend High School and play football. He was not able to get his driver’s license or go to prom. He was not able to get married. His parents and family did not get to witness him grow into manhood. They did not get to become In-laws to his wife or grandparents to his children.
In a split second their dreams were shattered and the hopes for their son’s future became dreams of the past.
Life will never ever be the same for this family. Never the same for all of Patrick’s friends and teachers and classmates and teammates. That night the Des Plaines and Rosemont communities lost their innocence. Their rose-colored glasses were taken off. How could this possibly happen in their wonderful communities?
Gun violence knows no color, no religion, and no financial status. It does not care about the victim’s age or stage in life. It does not care that it ruins lives, crushes the victim’s families and tears communities apart.This can not keep happening throughout our country. Every day people are dying senselessly because of gun violence. It has to stop.
4. Taking Action
Patrick’s mother and a group of caring individuals started Patrick Lives On as a way to honor Patrick and help their community.
In 2017 they produced 31 Public Service Announcements to be distributed nationally. The PSAs are part of a series entitled “Shattered – Gun Violence Shatters Lives” and “The Domino Effect – Every Action Has A Reaction”. Actors from Chicago PD, Chicago Med and Chicago Fire star in this campaign.
The Patrick Boswell Courage Award has been established to enable our youth to stay active in extracurricular activities. If our children are occupied in these positive activities of their choice, the lure of gangs and gun violence shall fade into the background.
The coaches, teachers, and counselors of these programs shall provide the much-needed mentorship for kids during our troubled times, keeping kids active in character building activities.