mom-founded charitable organizations
I have always been inspired by the power of a mother, a strength that is birthed from the heart and spreads out like long rays of sunlight, illuminating and warming every facet of life. If we could bottle that strength, I think we could change the world.
Here, we have gathered evidence of this, so our pick is not one, but a multitude (though by no means a full listing) of amazing organizations, created and grown by mothers inspired by their own need - sometimes their own pain and experience - to truly and significantly revolutionize the world and those around them.
Organizations In Our Community
Al’s Angels
Headquartered in Westport, Connecticut, Al’s Angels has worked for multiple decades to help families whose children are fighting cancer and other serious illnesses and hardships.
Breast Cancer Alliance
Founded by a woman diagnosed with breast cancer to raise money to fight the disease. Their mission is to “improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure.”
Dana’s Angels Research Trust
Niemann-Pick Type C disease often claims the lives of the children affected with it by their early teens. Dana’s Angels is working to fund research and care in order to come up with a cure or treatment to this terrible disease.
Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation
Pam and Joseph Fedorko founded the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation after their daughter’s tragic accident on the water. The foundation works to spread awareness of boating and water sports safety, both in Connecticut and beyond.
The Fearless Angel Project
Izabela O’Brien established The Fearless Angel Project to help families in need of autism support and resources after her own daughter was diagnosed with autism.
Friends of Autistic People
When Brita Darany von Regensburg’s daughter Vanessa legally became an adult, Brita found that she - and other adults with autism - weren’t receiving the proper treatment and care. She founded FAP in 1997 to work towards helping families with autistic adults navigate the system to best advocate for their children.
Filling in the Blanks
Founded in 2013 by two mothers, Filling in the Blanks now assists 60 schools in Fairfield and Westchester counties and has delivered over 1,000,000 weekend meals to children in low-income households.
Mothers for Others
Helps to provide diapers for children birth to 3 years old. In 2020 alone, they distributed over 78,000 diapers.
NYC Mammas Give Back
NYC Mammas give back is a network of moms working to improve the lives of mothers and families in NYC who are living at or beneath the poverty line.
Only You Foundation
Only You works to enrich the experiences of children with special needs, as well as their families.
Rockin’ Appalachian Mom Project (R.A.M.P.)
Founded in 2009 by mother Amy Guerreri, RAMP works to help hungry children in Marin County, Kentucky, which is one of the poorest counties in the country, with 33% of its population living beneath the poverty line.
Special Education Legal Fund
The Special Education Legal Fund was founded by parents with children in the special education system, to help other families both navigate the system as well as provide resources and guidance to them.
The Undies Project
Founded in 2015, The Undies Project was a response to its founder Lucy Langley’s realization that underwear was an incredibly under-donated yet vital necessity to those in need. The Undies Project collects and distributes new underwear to its partner organizations in Fairfield and Westchester counties.
National Organizations
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks was founded in 2005 by the grandparents of an autistic child. The organization does amazing work nationwide to help meet the needs to those with autism, as well as their families.
Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary
Catherine Violet Hubbard was a precious, red-headed little girl who had a truly special connection with animals, and her goal was to someday create an animal sanctuary. Her life was cut short in the Sandy Hook tragedy, but her parents have worked to make her dream a reality.
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The EGPAF works hard to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, as well as works to help kids and families affected by the diseases.
Epic Experience
After her adult son recovered from testicular cancer, Nancy Ferro realized the was a need for a community to help other survivors move on from the disease and their experiences.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 after Candace Lightner’s 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, MADD has worked tirelessly to try to eliminate drunk driving.
Mommies of Miracles
Mommies of Miracles is a global support network for mothers of children with exceptional needs.