Every organization has a story. Ours begins with a life that mattered.

On the morning of February 18, 2025, Ramsey Duke White Clay was found on the side of a road in Riverton, Wyoming. He had been lying alone in the cold for hours. His hands were scraped from trying to crawl. By the time emergency responders arrived, he barely had a heartbeat. He never made it to the hospital.

The Ramsey Duke Organization for Indigenous Wellness was founded in loving memory of my brother, whose life continues to inspire our mission of serving those experiencing homelessness, hardship, and crisis.

Ramsey was more than a statistic. He was a son, a brother, a father and a friend. He was someone who deserved dignity, compassion, and opportunity. Like so many Indigenous people, he faced challenges that are too often overlooked. His passing left an immeasurable void, but it also became a call to action.

I created this organization because I never wanted another family to feel as helpless as we did. I’ve made it my life’s goal to do for others in need everything I wished I could have done for my brother. Every outreach effort, every hygiene kit, every blanket, every meal, every conversation, and every connection to resources is done with the belief that each one of those individuals deserves to be seen, heard, and treated with respect.

This organization carries Duke’s name because his life reminds us that homelessness is never just about housing. It is about people, families, trauma, resilience, and the responsibility we all share to care for one another. Every service we provide is a commitment that his story will continue to create hope for others.

Thank you for helping us carry his legacy forward.

Celisa M. Jefferson