Out of tragedy, an opportunity to help others grew.
Megan Williams was selfless in her desire to help others, particularly children in need. The 17-year-old Center Grove High School student was out shopping for gifts for needy kids in December 2005 when she was killed in a car accident.
Her death was a devastating blow to the community and everyone who loved her. But though she is gone, her legacy of compassion has lived on.
Megan’s Fund, a charity created in Williams’ memory, has raised money to provide gifts and clothing to local children in need since it was formed in 2006. The effort has provided holiday gifts to hundreds of children, and this year’s distribution is expected to serve more than 400 kids.
“More and more people are now aware of her legacy and how much she did make a difference in the short time she was here,” said Rachel Cline, Williams’ best friend and co-founder of Megan’s Fund.
Over the past few weeks, piles of wrapped gifts have been piling up in the homes of Megan’s Fund organizers. Toy cars, LEGOs, art sets, board games and many, many other items have been purchased by donors, or bought by Cline and Cheryl Waterman, Williams’ mother, using funds donated to the charity.
Cline often goes on shopping runs with her children, who help pick out the items on kids’ lists. This year, she has also enlisted the help of student council members at Walnut Grove Elementary School, where she teaches. The students provided gifts for some of the children on the Megan’s Fund list, and wrapped the items themselves.
The spirit of participation truly embodies what Williams valued most. The fact that this is the 17th year for Megan’s Fund, and Williams was 17 when she died, has made this season’s collection feel more significant, Cline said.
“It seems kind of extra special this year,” she said.
Megan’s Fund was born the year following Williams’ death. Prior to the accident, she had been collecting money and gifts for children living in foster care and shelters through the Key Club program at Center Grove High School, where she was a junior.
In her memory, Cline and Waterman worked to finish the work Williams started that Christmas. Starting in 2006, they took on additional families, sponsoring kids and providing them with Christmas gifts. The first year of Megan’s Fund, they reached four to 10 children in need.
Their efforts have grown and touched more families every year. In 2021, they sponsored more than 445 kids, and about 400 kids are being helped this Christmas, Cline said.
“We’re working really hard at getting the word out,” she said. “It’s been around for a long time, but it seems a lot of times we meet people where this is the first they’ve heard of it.”
The children they help are referred from a variety of sources, including the United Way of Johnson County, Firefly Children & Family Alliance — which formerly was known as the Children’s Bureau and the organization that Williams collected for as a student — and Foster Fairies, which provides items for kids in foster care.
Megan’s Fund will help as many children as they can, and also accept donations for those who do not get a sponsor. In the coming weeks, all of the items collected and purchased will be distributed to organizations collecting gifts for kids in need, to help ensure they have the best Christmas ever.
Supporters of Megan’s Fund can donate using a fund set up at Chase Bank. This year, people have also been using Amazon Wishlist to purchase gifts. People interested in sponsoring a child individually can email organizers at [email protected].
HOW TO HELP
Megan’s Fund is seeking sponsors and donations.
Become a sponsor: Send an email to [email protected] to be paired up with a child in need. You can also visit the group’s Facebook page at facebook.com/Megansfund0929.
Wishlist: A Megan’s Fund list of needed items has been set up in an Amazon Wish List.
Donate: You can donate money at any Chase Bank location using the name Cheryl Waterman-Megan’s Fund.
