On this Giving Tuesday we want to shine a light on an extraordinary mission born from unimaginable loss. The Heaven’s 27 Foundation was created to honor the lives of the 27 precious girls lost in the Camp Mystic flood on July 4, 2024. The Heaven’s 27 Foundation carries their vision forward, turning their spirit of joy and generosity into scholarships, community programs, and causes that build the future they imagined.
Today, their families across Texas and beyond are channeling their grief into generosity. Each girl is honored through a charitable fund that mirrors their daughter’s passions, joys, talents, and kindness. Together, these funds support everything from animals and children in need to sports programs, nature conservation, special-needs advocacy, and simple everyday kindness.
Starting in November, DoSayGive has been sharing the individual foundations and funds on Instagram. Several DoSayGive readers experienced great loss in these floods – mothers, grandmothers, and aunts. Sharing these foundations, and how they reflect each girl’s personality and passions, is one small way we can support the families this holiday season.
Read below for a description of each foundation and what causes they support. You can donate to an individual fund or foundation or to the Heaven’s 27 Foundation. A donation to the Heaven’s 27 Foundation distributes funds equally to each individual memorial foundation – a beautiful way to embrace all 27 families with love. You can also honor one girl’s legacy or support all 27 at once.
What Each Fund and Foundation Supports
Greta Katherine Toranzo Memorial Fund
Greta Toranzo had a gift for making others feel seen, included, and loved. She gave the very best hugs and will forever be remembered as the brightest light. The Greta Katherine Toranzo Memorial Fund supports causes that reflect Greta’s kindness, creativity, blue-loving personality, and her love of swimming, tennis, dogs, and younger children.
Mary Grace Baker Memorial Fund
Supports causes rooted in faith, kindness, and joyful girlhood, capturing the sweet, sparkly spirit Mary Grace brought into every room. Gifts to the Mary Grace Baker Fund will support organizations she loved dearly like St. Anne Catholic School, Beaumont Civic Ballet, West End Little League, and more. If you or your spouse work for one of the 20,000+ companies offering Matching Gift programs, your employer will double or even triple your donation.
Cile Steward Fund
Cile’s creativity, determination, and natural ease with others made her a true leader. Yet it was her deep sensitivity and genuine sweetness that made her an adored friend and a loving big sister. The Cile Steward Fund was created as a meaningful legacy for Cile’s all-too-brief life honors Cile’s creativity, curiosity, artistic nature, and tender leadership by supporting initiatives aligned with creativity, friendship, and community.
Live Like MB Foundation
Inspired by Mary Barrett Stevens’s passions, Live Like MB created opportunities for kids to grow, explore, and thrive. It provides resources and scholarships that fuel children’s sense of wonder and joy and open doors to programs and activities that may otherwise be out of reach everything.
Renee Marilyn Smajstrla Memorial Fund
Funds causes tied to Renee’s adventurous spirit, drama and theatre involvement, love for snow sports, cheerleading, and bold confidence.
The Margaret Gaffney Sheedy Memorial Fund
Margaret Sheedy was a shining light and a special gift to all who knew her. Margaret’s Backpack (Memorial Fund) was created to honor her legacy of friendship and inclusiveness. Its mission is to support causes that fill people’s lives with the same things Margaret so freely shared with the world: kindness, patience, giggles, and love.
Abby Lynn Pohl Memorial Fund
Created to celebrate the life and spirit of Abby Pohl, the Forever Abby Lynn fund supports nonprofits that reflect Abby’s passions and values. The Abby Lynn Pohl Memorial Fund will continue Abby’s legacy by supporting sports and recreational programs in the City of Austin and contribute to the preservation and conservation of natural spaces.
Living for Lulu Fund
Created in honor of Eloise Elizabeth Peck, Living for Lulu’s mission is to bring comfort, healing, and hope to children and animals in need. Lulu had a natural way of making all creatures feel safe and adored. Her compassion was limitless and her smile was unforgettable. Lulu inspired those around her to care deeply for others. Her legacy of empathy, joy and love will continue with Living for Lulu, in every comforted heart and wagging tail. Support by donating or purchasing Living for Lulu merchandise here.
More Like Wynne Foundation
Wynne Naylor embraced the outdoors with an adventurous heart. She loved to dove hunt, fish, catch critters and play outdoors with her family and friends.The More Like Wynne Fund supports local schools, youth wildlife conservation, and Christian ministries – continuing the work Wynne would’ve championed.
Blakely McCrory Children’s Fund
Supports causes aligned with Blakely’s love for animals, theatre, humor, outdoor play, and faith. The fund seeks to further the mission of organizations aimed to create a world where children can thrive and reach their full potential, focusing on health, education, and overall well-being
Love Like Linnie Fund
Created to honor the legacy of Linne McCown, the Love Like Linnie Fund supports causes that were close to Linnie’s heart, spreading her light to others just as she did in life. The fund advances causes that promote inclusion, connection, joy, and kindness, honoring the way Linnie McCown made everyone feel welcomed and loved.
Sarah Marsh Memorial Fund
The name Sarah means “princess,” daughter of a king, and she is that – daughter of The King – and now lives with Him in glory forever with her Heavens 27 friends and loved ones who’ve gone before. Until they meet her there, her family will honor and celebrate the ways Sarah loved others so well. The Sarah Marsh Memorial Fund supports programs that reflect her joyful spirit and passions — to bless others in her honor
Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal Memorial Foundation
Kellyanne brought sparkle and joy into every space she entered with a sweet presence that was vibrant, unforgettable, and deeply cherished. The Kellyanne Elizabeth Lytal Memorial Foundation was established with the goal of spreading kindness in the world and supporting charitable causes that were near and dear to Kellyanne’s beautiful heart. We ask that you carry Kellyanne’s spirit forward with kindness, joy, and a little sparkle.
Hanna & Rebecca Lawrence Charitable Fund
Hanna and Rebecca shared a bond that only twins could understand. Hanna had endless energy and imagination and could always be found building, drawing, and creating. Rebecca loved to snuggle and was always up for a family movie night.Rebecca loved to snuggle and was always up for a family movie night. The Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence Charitable Fund will support causes that amplify Hanna and Rebecca’s passions and spread the joys and the meaning of their lives to others.
Lainey Landry Foundation
Lainey was a kind and fun friend, she made adults laugh like children, and she made each person in her orbit feel seen. Her kindness was not quiet; it was a burst of color and warmth, freely given. Though her life ended on July 4th, her giggles, her bold confidence, her sweet snuggles, her wild hair, her dance moves, her beauty, her nicknames, her constant love for her family—continue to shimmer. The Lainey Landry Foundation exists to continue the legacy of this special girl. To make a donation, email lainey@autumnlane.com.
Mary Kate Jacobe Charitable Gift Fund
Mary Kate Jacobe was beautiful and confident beyond her years — always a step ahead. Joyful, silly, and full of life, she was immeasurably sweet and a fiercely loyal friend. She was her brother’s biggest fan. A serial entrepreneur, she founded Mary Kate’s and Harry’s Cookies and Derpy Rainbow Slime Shop. The Mary Kate Jacobe Charitable Gift Fund supports initiatives tied to Mary Kate’s entrepreneurial mind, creativity, joy, and enthusiasm for community and friendship.
Janie Hunt Foundation
Janie embraced school, faith, friendship, and family with boundless enthusiasm. Known for her sharp mind, creativity, and adventurous spirit, she excelled in academics, the arts, athletics, and service. The Janie Hunt Foundation supports programs relating to academics, arts, sports, and service, reflecting Janie’s adventurous intelligence and generous spirit.
Virginia’s Song Foundation
Virginia Hollis grew up on her family’s ranch in Bellville, where she embraced life with a joyful spirit—loving flowers, butterflies, music, and make-believe—while excelling in school, art, piano, sports, and horsemanship. A devoted big sister, true friend, and generous soul, Virginia dreamed of becoming a mother, teacher, composer, and cowgirl. The Virginia Hollis Memorial Fund honor Virginia’s love of music, flowers, creativity, friendship, and faith, supporting programs that echo these loves.
Hugs From Hadley Foundation
Created in memory of Hadley Hanna, Hugs from Hadley celebrates her bright spirit by supporting causes that reflect her joyful and caring spirit. Through wellness programs, education initiatives, and community support, the foundation continues to share Hadley’s light and the love she so freely gave. All proceeds from Hugs From Handley merchandise will benefit the foundation.
Ellen Getten Fund
Ellen was beautiful on the inside and the outside. She gave every person a hug and would not let anyone leave her presence without a big one. There were no strangers in her life – only people she had not yet met and hugged. Donations can be made in Ellen’s honor to her beloved St. John’s School, or to the Ellen Elizabeth Getten Gift Fund (for more information, email ellen@henrybraggco.com.
Katherine Ferruzzo Legacy Foundation
Created to honor the life and legacy of Katherine Ferruzzo, the foundation will support causes that reflect the full scope of Katherine’s heart, her values, and the many lives she touched. The Foundation supports special-needs advocacy, volunteer work, and inclusion, mirroring Katherine’s devotion to serving children with special needs and her dream of studying special education.
Chloe Childress Memorial Endowment Fund
Supports scholarship, leadership development, and service-oriented causes by benefit The Kinkaid School’s newly created McGuyer Family Center for Wellbeing and Success, honoring Chloe’s bravery, academic excellence, and servant heart.
Anna “Margaret” Bellows Fund
Supports initiatives at St John’s School in Houston, Texas that embody Margaret’s boldness, joy, empathy, humor, and strong faith.
Bright Like Lucy Fund
Funds programs that uplift young athletes, leaders, and children who need encouragement, reflecting Lucy Dillon’s competitiveness, kindness, and heart for the underdog.
The Molly Claire Dewitt Legacy Fund
Endlessly creative, spunky, and strong-willed, Molly passionately poured herself into her interests — creating through art and design, learning about the world, dancing with abandon, excelling at soccer, and helping others. Though her time here was heartbreakingly short, Molly’s legacy of empathy, wonder, and unfiltered joy will live on in every act of kindness done in her name. This fund will continue Molly’s legacy of service to others.
Lila’s Light Foundation
Lila’s Light Foundation supports animals affected by natural disasters, honoring Lila Bonner’s tenderness for animals and her gentle leadership as a big sister. Their mission is to ensure Lila’s legacy — and her radiant light — continues to shine. All proceeds from gifts in the Lila’s Light Foundation will go directly to the Lila’s Light foundation.
If you have a friend who is grieving this holiday season, remembering their loved one is one way to show you care. Making a donation in their name is a thoughtful gesture to show you haven’t forgotten. Thank you for remembering these girls and their families this holiday season and, most importantly, for keeping them in your prayers.
Read more about Heaven’s 27 here.
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