Chapter 8 - Anna’s foundation
After Anna died from ovarian cancer, our family created a charity.
The Anna Ward Children’s Fund.
Mission:
Support families with young children during a parent’s cancer treatment.
Transportation grants.
Temporary child care.
Meal support.
Emergency hotel stays.
Anna had wanted something like it.
We had talked about it before she died.
Afterward, grief did what grief often does.
It turned an idea into urgency.
My parents pledged:
$1 million.
I pledged:
$1.5 million.
Friends and business partners added more.
Within two years, the foundation held roughly:
$4.7 million in assets and commitments.
Bethany became executive director.
Why?
She had nonprofit-event experience.
Daniel handled vendor relationships.
My mother chaired the board.
My father chaired fundraising.
I remained a director but attended less than I should have.
Rosie called it:
“Mommy’s helping money.”
So when she said:
“Aunt Bethany put Mommy money in bag,”
May you like
I finally understood what she meant.
She had seen something connected to the foundation.
