You may remember The Brown Family, a previous REF recipient who lost their baby Elijah at 4 months old. We are overwhelmed with joy to share that they welcomed a heathy baby boy, Isaiah, in February. A note from their mom: “The River Ellis Foundation has been a huge blessing in our life at a...
A 13 year old girl from Newport News was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, requiring out-of-state inpatient treatment for specialized radiation. Her mother had to leave work in order to be with her daughter while she was in treatment, leading to significant financial strain. The River...
A 28 year old Virginia Beach nurse was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic bone cancer, requiring an immediate and rigorous treatment regimen. The River Ellis Foundation partnered with @theboulevardbutler to provide weekly meals for her and her family while she completes the cancer treatment....
After being born prematurely, a couple lost their first baby in January. It was the family’s wish to have the baby cremated but they did not have the financial resources to do so. The River Ellis Foundation covered the cremation costs to help #GiveASunrise to this family.After being born...
A single mother was murdered in January, leaving her 3 young children to live with their maternal grandmother. The River Ellis Foundation provided food and clothing for the children as their grandmother coped with the loss of her daughter and arranged for more permanent resources to be put into...
A husband and father of two children ages 3 and 9, died suddenly from injuries sustained cutting tree branches at his home. His wife needed immediate financial assistance. The River Ellis Foundation covered rent to allow her time to put longer term financial resources into place....
An 11 year old boy was diagnosed with a brain tumor, leading to total blindness in the span of just a few months. In order to provide the level of care he requires, the child’s mother was unable to return to work after his diagnosis. The River Ellis Foundation covered rent for this family until...
A mother and child were forced to leave their home abruptly due to domestic violence, leaving behind all of their clothing and belongings. The same day as the request, The River Ellis Foundation provided clothing and toiletries to help fulfill their most urgent needs. #GiveASunrise
A Newport News family welcomed a premature baby girl in December. Due to multiple health issues including lung inadequacies and sepsis, the baby has remained in the NICU at CHKD. The River Ellis Foundation provided an EZ Pass for this family to be able to travel toll-free from Newport News to CHKD...
After a battling a brain tumor, a family lost their 10 year old son just before Thanksgiving. In order to spend their last few months together, the family utilized a significant portion of their financial resources to cover the costs of care for their son. The River Ellis Foundation provided...
The home of a Portsmouth child with Sickle Cell Disease was found to be uninhabitable due to an abundance of mold in the home. Forced to leave right away, the family needed immediate assistance in finding temporary housing. Just hours after the request, The River Ellis Foundation covered the cost...
A single father of 5 children lost his home to a fire. His 15 year old daughter suffered severe burns and remained in critical condition at Norfolk General, later being transported to a long-term care facility. The River Ellis Foundation provided furniture for the family’s new home as they lost...