25 Families Served

In 2019, Adventure for Ava started with the goal of helping families just like ours capture memories outside. At the time, it was just an idea. No roadmap. No funding. No team. Just a dad trying to find purpose in a difficult situation and hoping to give other families some of the same moments we were fighting to hold onto ourselves.

Recently we served our 25th family. While that number means a lot to me, what it represents are thousands of hours behind the scenes. Phone calls. Emails. Planning. Fundraising. Editing. Storytelling. Logistics. Countless conversations with families. Late nights and early mornings. There were moments where I wasn't sure if this idea would continue growing or quietly fade away.

The truth is that Adventure for Ava was never built by one person.

Along the way, donors stepped forward with generosity. Pilots donated flights. Captains donated boats. Guides donated their expertise. Volunteers gave their time. Photographers and filmmakers shared their talents and equipment. Friends and family (and sometimes total strangers) encouraged us/me when we needed it most. Most importantly, 25 incredible families trusted us with their stories.

Looking back, I'm proud of what we've built, but more than anything I'm grateful. Grateful that something Ava helped to inspire has become a source of joy, connection, and memories for so many others. Grateful that Ava helped me to find purpose.

To everyone who has supported Adventure for Ava over the last seven years—whether through a donation, an introduction, a volunteer hour, a shared post, or simply believing in what we're doing, THANK YOU! These 25 adventures belong to all of us.

Thank you Casey Matrangafor capturing this memory.