Editor’s Note: The information below was provided by families and foundations of the flood victims and has been edited for style and length.
The Park Cities lost six little girls last year in the catastrophic July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic.
Though their lives were brief, the foundations created in their honor have carried forward the kindness, joy, hope, and purpose each girl left behind.
Lila’s Light
LilasLight.org
Lila Bonner was a natural leader who loved all creatures, big and small, and was fiercely devoted to her two little sisters. She dreamed of opening an animal rescue and was always eager to hold a hand or give a gentle hug.
Lila’s Light aims to bring light to dark places by keeping children from harm and protecting animals from disaster and crises. This summer, Lila’s Light is proud to support The Safety Navigator for its Safe Summers Fund, which works to make camps safer through tools, expert guidance, risk assessments, and resources.
Lila’s Light has also partnered with nonprofits across the state to support the rescue and treatment of wounded animals. Thanks to the organization’s support, Phoenix — a horse belonging to Mounted Patrol Kendall Higgins who was badly injured during flood search and rescue — has fully healed and is thriving.
Hugs From Hadley
HugsfromHadley.org
Hadley Hanna was a ray of sunshine with a vibrant, unmatched spirit. She was fiercely loyal and a friend to all — a little girl who cartwheeled through life, smiling, singing, and dancing along the way.
Her foundation is supporting two scholarships for children with type 1 diabetes at Camp Sweeney, a place where children can experience the joy of camp in a safe, understanding environment. Hadley’s cousin is diabetic and attends the camp.
The foundation is also aiding the Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte, where people with disabilities can build independence and confidence through outdoor adventure programs, and 300 Justice Road, which will help three retiring Navy Seals re-enter civilian life and provides training and equipment to first responders in rural areas.
To remember Hadley, her family also suggests donating to the Texas Rangers, and specifically the search for Cile Steward, or to Heavens27.org.
The Janie Hunt Foundation
TheJanieHuntFoundation.com
The Janie Hunt Foundation serves as a lasting legacy in memory of Janie Hunt, who lit up the world with her bright smile, compassion, and love. It supports causes that were important to the 9-year-old, including STEM programs, drama, camp safety, and the arts.
The Foundation has partnered with Canine Companions, a nonprofit that connects people with disabilities and service dogs. It will support projects at Hyer Elementary, Janie’s home away from home, and sponsor annual service opportunities at the Day School at Highland Park Presbyterian Church.
Students at Hyer Elementary have honored Janie’s memory through acts of service. The school’s Kindness and Compassion Club recently spearheaded the first annual Janie Hunt Art Supply Drive benefitting a local nonprofit that serves refugees. And the Baker Kids, a club Janie helped start, raised funds for her Foundation at a school-wide bake sale organized entirely by her peers.
The Hanna and
Rebecca Lawrence
Charitable Fund
dallasfoundation.org/hanna-
rebecca-lawrence-charitable-fund
The Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence Charitable Fund supports nonprofits that reflect the twins’ passions and favorite pursuits.
For Hanna, who dreamed of becoming a chef to serve those in need, that means encouraging fearless leadership, fostering meaningful connections, and helping ensure that basic needs are met. For Rebecca, who dreamed of becoming a teacher, it means helping others feel comfortable in their own skin, expanding access to quality educational opportunities, and nurturing compassion for every living being, especially animals.
The Lawrence family hopes the money raised will do more than support those in need — it will also carry forward the joy, spirit, and meaning of Hanna and Rebecca’s lives.
“Keep spreading the joy and kindness that Hanna and Rebecca brought to this world,” the girls’ parents wrote, “tell others you love them, make them smile, show off your style, push limits, take care of yourself and each other, and be you.”
Living for Lulu
LivingforLulu.com
Eloise Peck could make anyone feel important, safe, and adored, whether they had two legs or four. She filled her parents’ world with love, laughter, and light, and had an altruistic heart that was as big as her smile.
Eloise’s favorite playmate was her little brother, Holden. She loved her school, teachers, coaches, security officers, and friends. She was inclusive of all, at ease with nature, and explored the world around her with a curiosity that caused her to meet, pet, pick up, and name every animal that crossed her path.
“Our mission is to bring comfort, healing, and hope to children and animals in need — reflecting the love, empathy, and joy that Lulu shared so freely in her short but impactful life,” her family wrote on Living for Lulu’s webpage.
Author
