When 18-year-old twin brothers Blake and Quincy Ishida (Kristin Ishida’s, Associate Director of Development, sons) began planning their Eagle Scout project, they wanted to give back to the YMCA where they had once taken classes as kids. Their idea — to create a garden for farm-to-table enrichment classes — quickly gathered momentum. With the help of Torrance-South Bay YMCA board members Russell Akiyama, who brought expertise in plants, and Dean Beresford, who shared his woodworking skills, the brothers, volunteers, and local partners worked side by side to bring the garden to life.
Russell also owns Sunflower Farms Nursery, a place Jason and his family often visited. Jason loved exploring the nursery, learning about plants, and searching for insects. Those visits became treasured family moments, and Russell still remembers Jason’s curiosity and joy fondly. Even now, Jason’s family continues to visit Sunflower Farms — a place where Jason’s memory is still very much alive.
But the true heart of the project revealed itself one day when a toy was uncovered in the soil. Youth and Family Program Director, Cassie Buzze immediately recognized it as belonging to Jason Bradley Scaccia.
Jason had been part of the YMCA family for many years. He first joined the Torrance-South Bay YMCA’s afterschool program at Anza Elementary in 2017, when he was in kindergarten, and stayed through 2021 as a 4th grader. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, Torrance Memorial Hospital asked the YMCA to provide childcare for their nurses and staff. Because Jason’s father worked at the hospital, Jason and his sister came to the Y for care. By June 2020, they transitioned back to the Torrance-South Bay YMCA for distance learning childcare.
During those days, Jason spent a lot of time in the room next to the patio, where staff often let kids play outside. He loved digging in the dirt, searching for insects, and it was here that he discovered a strawberry growing in the garden. With pure childlike wonder, he asked if he could eat it. That moment captured who Jason was — curious, playful, and connected to nature. Today, the garden beds grow a variety of fruits and vegetables for enrichment programs, but every bed also grows strawberries as a tribute to Jason.
Jason also had a spark of creativity all his own. While he often wasn’t interested in the crafts planned for the group, staff made him his own art supply box filled with materials to create freely. The toy uncovered during the garden work — the one Cassie recognized — was one of the pieces from that box, a small but powerful reminder of Jason’s imagination and individuality.
Every staff member who met Jason remembered his spirit. He left a lasting impact with his kindness, humor, and contagious personality, and his presence is still felt throughout the YMCA. Jason passed away in 2022 at the age of 10 (2012–2022), but the memories he created here continue to inspire.
When Cassie shared Jason’s story, it changed everything. What began as a community project grew into a living tribute. Each garden bed now grows strawberries in Jason’s honor, and his family has been part of the journey from the very beginning.
YMCA Community Well-Being Specialist Raegen Valdes was especially moved by Jason’s story. Having walked through her own sister’s childhood cancer journey, Raegen understood both the hardship and the resilience it demands. “I knew we needed to carry Jason’s light forward here,” she said.
With Cassie’s stories of Jason to guide her, Raegen designed a mural to capture his spirit. The mural is rich with meaning: Jason is represented both by a drawing of him and as a radiant sun shining over the garden. To the left, his words “Kindness is a rainbow” appear in rainbow colors, visually connecting the whole design. Hummingbirds and butterflies — creatures he loved and that often visit the garden — were included to symbolize Jason’s presence and the beauty of rebirth.
When the design was complete, Jason’s family joined YMCA staff to help paint the mural and bring the vision to life. Later, they shared how perfectly it represented him — a vibrant, joyful, and kind reminder of the light he brought into the world.
The dedication evening was filled with meaning and connection as Jason’s family, YMCA staff, volunteers, and community members gathered to celebrate his memory. Jason’s mom, Erin Suyehara, expressed the family’s gratitude:
“We are so grateful to the Torrance-South Bay YMCA for honoring and celebrating Jason in such a tremendous way. What started as an idea evolved into a dedicated community space in memory of our son, and the story of how it all transpired will undoubtedly leave us in awe forever. Knowing that Jason’s spirit continues to inspire gives us hope and comfort as a family, and the evening’s dedication showed us just how much he is loved and remembered. The garden and the mural reflect Jason’s earthy connections to our planet, nature, and food, perfectly. In our eyes, the space is a testament to how well the Y family knew him—his kindness, his energy, and his interests. We feel that the garden is a tribute not only to our son and the positive and impactful experiences that he had at the Y, but also the individuals who created spaces and activities for Jason to grow and be himself. There is no doubt in our minds that people find community at the YMCA. The staff’s impact can’t be measured. They’re simply incredible.”
Today, this courtyard is more than a garden. It is a place where enrichment classes can flourish, where children can connect with nature and creativity, and where Jason’s joy and kindness will continue to shine for years to come.
