Thrift store created to raise funds for Clever man’s memorial scholarship

When Clever native Brett Keeling, 19, was killed in a vehicle crash in January of 2018, his family created a scholarship in his honor – the Brett Keeling Memorial Scholarship – which provides up to $1,000 in college tuition to one graduating Clever High School senior every year. Now, they have started a new non-profit organization, Kind and Caring, Inc., and an upscale thrift store, Embolden Boutique, which held its grand opening on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Embolden Boutique is operated through Kind and Caring, Inc., and is located in Billings. The thrift store carries a number of items for sale, including furniture, clothing items, home décor, gift items, and more.
Amy Keeling, Brett’s mother and the manager of the Embolden Boutique, said she hoped the finances raised through Embolden Boutique will allow them to award scholarships to more high
school seniors.
“Our nonprofit organization was created to help fund and expand our scholarship program and to promote kindness with our kindness campaigns,” she said.
“All of the profits from our store go to the organization, which funds our scholarships.
With this, we hope to be able to offer several scholarships per year to high school seniors in the local rural areas, rather than just one scholarship per year.”
Embolden Boutique will also host a fundraising event called “Beautiful, Brave & Bereaved” at the Savoy Ballroom in Springfield on Sunday, April 26; tickets are $25 per person in advance or $30 at the door. The event will allow those who have lost a love one to model clothing in honor of that person.
“The focus of this event is to allow bereaved families a chance to walk in honor of their late loved ones and to help keep precious memories alive, all while celebrating life and sharing joy with family, friends and fashion,” Keeling wrote on the Facebook posting announcing the event.
In addition to the scholarship, Keeling said Kind and Caring also sponsors “kindness campaigns” in honor of Brett’s memory.
“We also sponsor kindness campaigns and help promote kindness and inclusions in school-age kids,” she said. “We have been told by many local students that Brett was the only person who treated them as an equal or made them feel included, and it’s important to us to carry on that legacy. He was truly the kindest person with the biggest heart.”
Donate…
Donations of items for resale are accepted. Monetary donations for the Brett Keeling Memorial Scholarship can be made at Mid-Missouri Bank or sent vial PayPal at BrettKeelingMemorial@yahoo.com.
Embolden Boutique is located at 167 Washington Ave. in Billings, and is open from on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (417) 597-2527, e-mail them at emboldenboutique@yahoo.com, or visit their Facebook page.