Our Story
We learned firsthand that tragedy doesn’t discriminate when our daughter, River, died at just two days old in September of 2018. Our world came crashing down around us as we found ourselves in the middle of every parent’s worst nightmare: instead of taking River home from the hospital to begin our lives together, we would be faced with the unthinkable task of planning her funeral.
Our Mission
Sh*t happens to good people and hardship doesn’t discriminate. Individuals in our own community are faced with tragedies and unimaginable adversity every single day. We want to be there for those people: the ones who’ve found themselves in the middle of something they couldn’t have prepared for. Those who don’t quite fit into a box, but need some support to get through the adversity they’re facing.
How You Can Help
There are several ways you can help The River Ellis Foundation and give a sunrise to someone in the Hampton Roads Community. We’d love for you to get involved!
Make a Donation
Help make a difference in the lives of those in our community who need it the most. Every dollar counts!
Nominate Someone
Do you know someone in the community who have recently faced an unexpected hardship and could use some extra support? Nominate them today!
Read latest news from our blog:
REF Places Family In Hotel After House Burned Down
A 10-year-old girl with a rare blood disorder was still recovering from a bone marrow transplant when her grandparents received full custody of her due to family issues within her home. Soon after she went to live with her grandparents, their house burned down. The...
REF Helps Family Who Lost Their Home In Fire
After a baby was born premature, she spent 60 days in the NICU. The day before she was discharged from the hospital, the family’s house burned down and they lost everything in the fire. The River Ellis Foundation provided immediate assistance to cover the cost of...
REF Helps Baby Fly To Meet Family In Texas
A 10 month old with congenital heart issues was given 6 months to live. After receiving this news, his parents wanted to take him to Texas to meet the rest of his family as soon as possible, but the baby was unable to fly without specialized equipment to keep him...
Make A Donation
Help make a difference in the lives of those in our community who need it the most. Every dollar counts!
Get Involved
Are you looking to get involved in giving back to your community? We have many volunteer opportunities and events throughout the year. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, please complete the form on the volunteer page.