REF Helps French Family After Losing Twins
After a family gave birth to premature twins, both babies passed away around 22 weeks old. Now residing in Hampton Roads, the family recently relocated from another country and they were not yet covered by health insurance. The River Ellis Foundation covered rent for...
REF Helps Family Recover After Fire
A hospital staff member and her family lost everything they owned, including their dog, in a fire. They required immediate assistance replacing medicine and supplements that were medically necessary for maintaining their health after undergoing previous surgeries. The...
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...
REF Covers Cost Of Burial Plot For 6 Week Old Baby
A Williamsburg couple lost their baby at six weeks old. Both parents are from outside of the country with very little support or resources in the area. The River Ellis Foundation covered the cost of the burial plot so that their baby could be buried in...
REF Helps Cover Funeral Expenses For 1 Year Old Franklin Boy
A Franklin mother’s 1 1/2 year old son passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. A single mother, her husband died last fall in a motorcycle accident. She has a healthy 6 year old at home and a 4 year old child with severe medical needs that is currently in hospice care....
We Love Our Corporate Supporters!
“If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that life is wrought with unexpected hardships. Over the past months, we have witnessed unimaginable tragedies and adversities globally, nationally and even within our own Hampton Roads community. What a comfort it is to...
REF Covers Rent For Family Of 6 Hit With COVID-19
A Virginia Beach mother was hospitalized and unable to work for an extended period of time after suffering severe complications due to COVID-19. As the sole provider for her family of six, this left the family in difficult financial situation while the mother...
REF Covers Toll Expenses For Family Traveling To/From CHKD NICU
A Hampton family was faced with an unexpected hardship after welcoming boy and girl twins in November. Tragically, the baby girl passed away while the baby boy continues to receive care in the NICU at CHKD. On top of medical expenses, the family acquired toll debt...
REF Helps Woman Cover Funeral Costs After Losing Her Father And Her Son To COVID-19
In the period of one month, a Virginia Beach woman lost her father and her son due to COVID-19. She found herself unable to afford a funeral for her son so soon after her father passed away. The River Ellis Foundation helped cover the funeral costs so she could hold a...
REF Purchases Supplies to Help Doctors Explain Leg Amputation to Child
A 6 year old boy arrived at CHKD with what was first believed to be a foot infection. However, it turned out that he required leg amputation below his knee. The River Ellis Foundation purchased books and an amputee stuffed teddy bear to help the CHKD Child Life...











