Friends and family of Justin House presented a check for $3,500 to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley Wednesday afternoon at Liberty Township Baseball Fields, after raising the funds from a softball tournament held on July 24 to honor Justin. 

Justin House was a former firefighter, U.S. Airman and 2013 Liberty High School graduate who lost his life to suicide in 2020. 

This was the first tournament that family and friends hope to become an annual event to honor Justin. 

The fundraising idea was created because Justin loved playing baseball and enjoyed donating to and assisting the homeless. 

"We decided to put our heads together and decided why don't we raise some money for local organizations in the Valley and have fun while doing it," said Lou Rivera, Justin's best friend. "What better thing to do than play on the field we grew up on."

Rivera said the fundraiser brought in dozens to raise local funds and hopes the event grows every year.