Dear Friends,
It has been over a year since I lost Wiley, Morgan and Parker to an unthinkable plane crash. Since then, my journey has been about learning to survive without my husband and two children. While on this incredibly difficult path I have discovered a new self and traveled the world. I hiked my first three 14,000' mountains in Colorado, while climbing my own mountains of highs and lows. I came face-to-face with tragedy and despair and I chose to rise above my unthinkable situation. I know living life to its fullest and being a positive influence in this world makes my boys proud of me.
As many of you have known, it has been my hope and dream that one day I would be able to start a fund to honor the lives of my Wiley, Morgan, and Parker. That dream starts with this letter to you announcing the Wiley, Morgan, and Parker Fund.
Wiley and I had long considered adopting a baby girl from China. Morgan always wanted a sister and Parker just loved babies. I can't think of a better way to honor their lives now than by establishing a fund in their names that will help families adopt orphaned Chinese children who are often overlooked because of minor handicaps. This fund will also help me continue to heal, knowing that the Boys' lives will always have meaning and an impact in this world.
My research on the Waiting Child Program, a division of the Chinese Children's Charities, has ignited my passion to establish this fund. So many children born into this world are destined to a life never knowing what a loving mother, father and siblings feel like, especially children with slight handicaps. Such handicaps include a cleft palate or a cleft lip. Many minor abnormalities like these can be corrected. In a world that values perfection, it breaks my heart to know the scorn and anguish these Waiting Children will face without a loving family. The Waiting Child Program makes it possible for American families/couples to make a life-changing connection with these precious children.
The Wiley, Morgan, and Parker Fund will make these dreams come true for families who want to adopt these children, but are faced with the out-of-pocket adoption fee. Grants given from the Wiley, Morgan, and Parker Fund may also be used for medical expenses. Many of these families have already adopted a child from China and are ready to welcome these beautiful children into their lives through the Waiting Child Program. I want to make the possibility of uniting a family/couple with these Waiting Children.
I have chosen The Denver Foundation to be an umbrella foundation to take care of all the legal, accounting, investment and donation processing. This partnership will allow me to devote my time to fund-raising. Once the fund reaches $100,000 interest earned will be given out every year as ‘grants' to adoptive families. With a $100,000 fund, approximately $5,000 per year will be available to the parents; at $250,000 the fund can provide up to $12,500 per year. Because only the interest will be used as grants, this fund will perpetually honor the Reed Boys through these grants and forever change the lives of some of the most needful children on our planet.
I truly believe this fund will make a positive and loving impact in this world, while providing a way to heal the many hearts scarred by the loss of Wiley, Morgan and Parker. Please take a few minutes to browse through the pages and links on this site. All donations are tax-deductible and every contribution will be greatly appreciated. Please email me to discuss any questions you may have. I would love to hear from you. :0)
Love,
Denise Reed
