Welcoming their daughter, Ellie, into the world on May 20, 2016, was such a special occasion for Ashleigh and Matt Wyble—a day filled with love, happiness, hopes, and dreams. But on August 14, a few days before Ellie would have turned three months old, the unthinkable happened, and she unexpectedly passed away under tragic circumstances. Seven years later, the Wybles still don’t fully know what caused Ellie’s sudden death and probably never will.
But the couple refused to let their grief overwhelm them. They realized that the only way to move forward was to create a foundation to honor Ellie and keep her memory alive. So, in October 2016, the Wybles established the For Ellie Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with proceeds benefitting the pediatric units of Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) and University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC). The mission of the foundation is “[to create] a more beautiful world through random acts of kindness.” And it all began with the idea of planting a garden.
“The groundbreaking of the Labyrinth at Woods Presbyterian Memorial Church’s Care and Counseling Center in Severna Park had recently taken place,” says Ashleigh, president of the For Ellie Foundation. “It was a project that Matt’s grandparents, Jerry and Elizabeth Wyble, had spent many years trying to complete. Almost all of the funds had been raised, but we started a GoFundMe with the goal of raising an additional $5,000. We ultimately raised $30,000, so we decided to create the For Ellie Foundation and pay it forward, which is how the foundation’s random acts of kindness theme originated.”
The Wybles used some of the funds to create the adjacent Child’s Garden. Attached to the Labyrinth, the garden is adorned with two benches and a child’s bench, where they grow moonflowers each year. A favorite of Matt’s grandmother, moonflowers bloom in the evening and represent light in the darkness. For the Wybles, they also symbolize beauty born of tragedy. A peaceful place for reflection, Ellie’s Moonflower Garden was dedicated on May 20, 2017. The date, which would have been Ellie’s first birthday, serves as a touching tribute to her memory.
During the months that the moonflower garden was being completed, the Wybles started creating programs to fulfill the mission of the foundation, including the Hope Totes program. Launched in January 2017, Hope Totes provides essential items to offer care and comfort to families with a loved one in the pediatric emergency department. The foundation also donates iPads, toys, books, and other items and supports projects that benefit the community, patients, and staff. Since its inception, the For Ellie Foundation has raised more than $300,000 and delivered more than 2,100 Hope Totes.
“It is hard to put into words how the For Ellie Foundation’s dedication to our community has touched so many lives,” says Meghan Siegel, Certified Child Life Specialist, Luminis Health AAMC, Pediatric Emergency and Inpatient Unit. “From donations of toys to supplies for staff, they continue to show up on a regular basis to support our patients and families. Over the past seven years, I have had the honor of handing off thousands of tote bags. Having a child emergently transferred to another facility can be scary and confusing. Being able to provide an Ellie bag is often met with a sigh of relief from a parent. The comfort items ease some of the challenges parents will face during the next steps of their child’s care.”
“Ashleigh’s generous philanthropic support and spirit of paying it forward have benefitted UM BWMC and many of its tiniest patients in countless ways,” adds Susan Iaquinta, Director of Development, BWMC Foundation, Inc. “A member of BWMC Foundation’s Next Generation Committee, Ashleigh has helped UM BWMC create a library cart with books for our pediatric patients. She also donates over 100 Ellie Hope Totes annually and financially supports our infant safe sleep program for new families. We are very fortunate to have her as a partner to help us fulfill our mission of providing high quality healthcare to the communities we serve.”
In addition to its projects and programs, the For Ellie Foundation also hosts two fundraisers every year: a cornhole tournament and a virtual raffle. This year’s cornhole tournament is scheduled for February 17. To register, visit forellie.regfox.com/2024cornhole.
Ashleigh, a data scientist for the Nielsen Company, lives in Severna Park with Matt and their sons, Luke, 10, and Cooper, 5.
“The For Ellie Foundation gives us a way to continue to pay it forward,” Ashleigh says. “What we went through will always be tragic and sad, but being able to shine positivity in Ellie’s name makes it feel like she is still impacting the world. She may not be here physically, but she has touched thousands of families and will continue to do so. I hope her/our story will show people that you can get through the unimaginable and still find joy and kindness in life.”
To learn more about the For Ellie Foundation, visit forellie.org.
Do you have a volunteer to nominate? Send What's Up? an email to editor@whatsupmag.com.
