To honor Ryan’s life and his passion for art and community, the family initially established a fund at the Butler Institute of American Art to provide underprivileged children from the Youngstown area the opportunity to participate in the Summer Arts Programs offered by the Butler. Additional funds were given to the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board (MCMHRB) and were used to start a art program led by the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).  Interest and participation in the program grew rapidly within the first two years. The rapid growth of the program led to the realization that the Mahoning Valley was void in art therapy providers, services and programs. In 2018, the decision was made to create the HELMS Foundation to help address these unmet needs and provide art therapy services to individuals experiencing a wide range of behavioral health, substance use and trauma. Ryan’s signature “tag "has now become the name of the organization which will help individuals who are struggling to Heal ,Express and Learn through all Mediums and Styles.

It has plenty of meaning now though, as the foundation selected the name The Ryan Giambattista HELMS Foundation, using Ryan's tag as an acronym to reflect the foundation's mission and vision.  HELMS standing for "Heal, Express, and Learn through all Mediums and Styles."