Imagining a world where every family
with a critical fetal diagnosis has the resources
and support to embrace their child's life.
Save the date for our annual event: May 23, 2025!
WHO WE ARE
The Will White Foundation is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2021 in memory of our son, Will, and supports families in the Kansas City area that receive a critical diagnosis during their pregnancy.
In January 2021 our world was turned upside down when we received a devastating critical fetal diagnosis shortly after our 20 week ultrasound for Will, our third child and first son.
As the pregnancy progressed, our team at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City prepared us that Will would not live a long life.
Will was born on May 25, 2021 and lived for 4 days being loved on and constantly held. His beautiful life ultimately inspired us, his parents, to take our experience and help others – specifically, families who receive a critical fetal diagnosis.
It is hard to express what families go through after hearing that something is wrong with their baby(ies). This is a life changing, life defining, lonely and scary time for these families. And there aren't enough support resources during the fetal period.
We are working to change this.
WHAT WE DO
The Will White Foundation provides funding, resources and support for families across Kansas City experiencing a critical fetal diagnosis. Everything we do honors Will’s life journey and we focus on the many groups who made a difference in Will’s life and on our family: maternal fetal medicine, labor and delivery, cardiology, counseling, pediatric hospice and palliative care.
We are a 501(c)(3) that is 100% volunteer run. Our donations go through a Board approval process ensuring they directly support our Mission. Our biggest partner is Children's Mercy in Kansas City – where Will was born and where much of our experience was shaped. Each year, Children's Mercy delivers around 200 babies, 30-40 of which are infant loss or still birth babies.
Through the Fetal Health Center at Children's Mercy, we are:
- New for 2024, we are establishing a Will White Foundation endowed fund with Children’s Mercy and working to determine which area(s) of the hospital are in most need while directly supporting our Mission.
- Delivering an individual basket with comfort items to all moms who deliver at Children's Mercy. We will also be stocking comfort items/necessities for patients & support persons (hair ties, toiletries, snacks, etc.) in the common room of the Labor and Delivery unit at Children's Mercy.
- Supporting families who experience a still birth or infant loss. Children's Mercy has a bereavement team within the Fetal Health Center and we partner directly with them to source and supply memory making items and gifts for these families.
New for 2024, we are in the early stages of identifying ways to partner with and support Overland Park Regional’s Fetal Health Center.
Our Impact
2021:
- Donated to the Children’s Mercy Hospital Fetal Health Center renovation and expansion with a focus on patient and parent comfort items within the hospital rooms
- Cleared the Amazon Wishlist for the Children’s Mercy Hospital Labor and Delivery Bereavement Team
2022:
- Donated newborn and preemie onesies with coordinating hats to Children’s Mercy Hospital Labor and Delivery team
- Cleared the Amazon Wishlist for the Children’s Mercy Hospital Labor and Delivery Bereavement Team
2023:
- Cleared the Amazon Wishlist for the Children’s Mercy Hospital Labor and Delivery Bereavement Team
2024:
- Celebrated heart month with special edition apparel and donated proceeds ($3,500) to Children's Mercy Hospital for their Fetal Cardiology group
- Stocked memory making items for the Children’s Mercy Labor and Delivery Bereavement Team
- Supplied the lounge in Children’s Mercy Labor and Delivery unit with comfort items and necessities for families
HOW TO HELP
Our annual fundraiser event is held each May close to Will's birthday. Our 2025 event will be May 23, 2025! Look out for additional details in early 2025.
Monetary donations to the Will White Foundation can be made throughout the year via credit card, via check (email us for address!) or via Venmo.
Will White Foundation merchandise can be purchased year round at the link below. A portion of the proceeds come directly back to the Foundation.
In addition to the above, we continue to seek avenues to support this underserved community. If you know of opportunities within Kansas City or a family who is experiencing a critical fetal diagnosis and needs support, please contact us.
2024 ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
Thank you for all of your support during our 2024 event! We raised over
$28,000 in honor of Will and to fund the Will White Foundation mission.
We are so grateful to our amazing community - xoxo
We also want to recognize our generous sponsors who made our event a success!:
