A light for others. A heart for the overlooked. A legacy that continues.
Luca Chiaro’s name means “light,” and anyone who knew him understands why. Luca was only sixteen, yet he lived with a depth of kindness and conscience that many never reach.
When he was in 7th grade at Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School, Luca chose Homes 4 the Homeless for his Tzedakah project. He researched our work on his own. He saw people most of us walk past. And he decided, at that young age, that they mattered.
We are honoring Luca with the same spirit he gave to others: compassion, dignity, and action.
Who Luca was. Luca was the kind of teenager who noticed the person standing alone. A new student. Someone out of place. Someone quiet. He had a gift for making people feel seen.
He loved his family deeply. He loved Hawaii and sunshine. He loved simple joys like a good steak, the idea of a Miata with flip-up headlights, and dreaming about a cross-country road trip. He also carried something rare: a big-picture mind and an unusually strong moral compass. Luca thought about the deeper questions. He cared about people who were hurting. And he chose to do something about it.
Some lights burn so brightly it feels impossible that they’re gone. And yet, Luca’s light is still here, in everyone he loved and in every life his kindness continues to touch.
A Note from our CEO
I didn’t get the chance to meet Luca in person, and that is something I will carry with me for a long time. Still, I knew him in the way that matters most. I knew him by what he chose. I knew him by the values he lived with, quietly and consistently, at an age where most people are still figuring out who they are.
I had plans to bring Luca into the fold of what Homes 4 the Homeless is doing when he was old enough to be involved without taking from his education. Now, in his absence, I find myself wanting to know him more and wanting the world to know him more, too. Homes 4 the Homeless was born out of tragedy. Luca’s heart recognized that. He chose us early, and in doing so he became part of our story. His message and his spirit are now part of ours.
I’m writing this with tears in my eyes. I should have written sooner. I just couldn’t emotionally do it yet. If you’re here because you loved Luca, or because Luca touched your life, please know this: we will carry him forward. We will protect the integrity of his name. And we will make sure the good he started continues.
With deep love and respect,
Steve Schneider
CEO, Homes 4 the Homeless
Luca’s Original Project (from 7th grade)
Luca didn’t just care. He acted. Below is Luca’s original school presentation highlighting homelessness and the work of Homes 4 the Homeless.
Luca’s honorary role at Homes 4 the Homeless
Honorary Youth Ambassador for Compassion & Service (In Perpetuity)
This is our commitment to Luca and his family. His name will always be associated with care, dignity, and action.
His light will continue to guide work that helps others who are hurting find safety and hope.
Luca in pictures
May Luca’s memory forever be a blessing. And may we honor him the way he lived, by seeing others and choosing kindness.