Article Contributed on: 4/13/2007 1:04:55 PM
There is nothing more painful than the loss of a child. Imagine the loss of two children within two years of each other.
The "Kendall And Taylor Atkinson Foundation" (hereinafter KATA Foundation) was founded by their family in loving memory of two children lost after months of fighting Fanconi Anemia, a blood disease which necessitated both Kendall and Taylor to get bone marrow transplants. Kendall died of complications in March of 2004 at the age of 20, and Taylor died in February of 2006 at the age of 18.
The KATA Foundation's mission is to provide funding for effective treatments and a cure for Fanconi Anemia and to provide education and support services to affected families in Colorado. In addition, KATA seeks to improve the lives of children living with disability, disease, or poverty. Specific projects funded by KATA in 2006 include:
- A donation of $65,000 was made to the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund.
- Two students at Arapahoe High School received scholarships to Camp Barnabas.
- A donation of $16,500 was made to a fund at Camp Barnabas toward the building of a new camper cabin.
- Thirteen kids from the Champa House in Denver were able to attend local camps while their mothers received educational and vocational training.
"Brave Hearts 2007" is currently being organized to raise funds for the continuing of community and state projects such as were accomplished in 2006. On behalf of the Atkinson family, our neighborhood and the local community, we submit this heartfelt request for a $1,000.00 grant.