Megan Williams had a passion for helping others, and 13 years after her death, she continues to help hundreds of children during the holidays.
Williams was a Center Grove High School student when she was killed in a car accident in 2005 on her way to purchase gifts for children and their families for Christmas.
She was passionate about making sure all children had a good holiday, said her mother, Cheryl Waterman.
“I remember her sitting on my bed reading their stories and she asked, ‘Mom, which one do I pick?’” Waterman said.
That is why for the past 13 years, Megan’s Fund has provided children with gifts and clothes for Christmas. The fund started with Waterman and Williams’s good friend, Rachel Cline. They both continue to run the program today.
“We wanted to carry on the work she started,” Waterman said.
Megan’s Fund works with organizations in Johnson and Marion counties, who give names of the children in need. The children are then paired with a sponsor and monetary donations are collected to supply for the children without sponsors.
Last year, Megan’s Fund helped 250 kids and this year, they have sponsors paired with 150 kids but expect to receive more.
“We get a lot of feedback about how they were just able to have a day full of happy memories and the kids had a wonderful Christmas,” Cline said.
The lists for each child include basic needs such as clothes and a couple toys, Cline said. The goal is to give children and their families a good Christmas morning.
“I don’t have my daughter anymore, so I don’t get to experience that, but I want others to,” Waterman said.
Megan’s Fund continues to grow each year, with 30 children sponsored in 2005 and 250 sponsored in 2017. The goal is the continue growing to help more families each year, Cline said.
“We’ve helped hundreds and hundreds of kids year after year so it’s amazing to see her legacy does continue to live on,” she said.
Williams understood what is meant to help people, Waterman said. She said there are no words to describe the impact Megan’s Fund brings.
“I think she looks down from above in total awe,” Waterman said.
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Megan’s Fund is seeking sponsors and donations. Here is how to help:
Sponsor: Email [email protected] to be paired with a child.
Donate: Cash donations are accepted at Chase Bank locations under Megan’s Fund.
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