About Us
Who We Are
Our Mission & Vision
The Avalon Foundation is an organization that promotes and teaches youth leadership through offering support to kids receiving life-altering treatment for rare diseases.
Mission: To empower kid-driven leadership that supports kids with rare disease
Vision: To collectively cultivate compassion by caring for kids
Building Youth Leaders in the Toledo area
Helping Families all over the United States
Provide Support to the Rare Disease Community
![photosTAF](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/photosTAF.png)
How It Began
Our Inspiration
It all started with the dream of a little girl, Avalon. She wanted to support other kids just like her
Kids Caring for Kids
Avalon's Story
The Avalon Foundation began with an act of kindness from a 10-year-old girl who wanted to help ease the pain and distress of other children who, like her, live with a rare disease.
Avalon Budd was just 9 months old when her pediatrician became concerned with her gross motor skill development. It took almost 3 years to get a diagnosis: Hypophosphatasia (HPP), a rare genetic disorder in which defective mineralization (the process by which bones and teeth take up minerals such as calcium and phosphorus) causes abnormal development. Her parents poured over all the research they could get our hands on, but there wasn’t much available. There was no treatment available, either.
Avie couldn’t walk without gait issues, much less run or jump. She used a wheelchair and electric scooter to maximize her mobility throughout her childhood years. She also faced challenges with cognition, energy, and sensory processing.
In 2015, Avalon turned 10 and the FDA approved the first-ever treatment for HPP, an injectable enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) called Strensiq produced by Alexion, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing life-changing therapies for people living with rare disorders.
In just three months, Avie went from using a wheelchair to running and jumping around the volleyball court! The results were nothing short of miraculous, but it took time to start seeing improvements and Avie struggled with the pain treatment.
Injections are painful and mentally challenging, no matter what condition you have or how old you are. Avie said these injections, which were delivered three times a week, felt like hot lava under her skin. Other side effects were practically unbearable and rendered her immobile. She
Avie’s grandmother put together a “PainBox” to provide encouragement and rewards to get through each injection. This gave Avie the motivation to continue with her treatment and by 10-12 weeks she finally experienced noticeable improvements in her physical ability, endurance and overall comfort level.
Avie told her mom that she wanted to help other kids like her starting treatment. Nine months later, The Avalon Foundation was formalized as a 501(c)(3).
Our Team
The People Behind Our Passion
We cannot carry out our mission without our youth leaders, board members, and volunteers
#KC4K Board
![Avalon Budd](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Avalon-Budd.jpg)
Avalon Budd
![Katy Gruber](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Kelsey.jpg)
Katy Gruber
![Kelsey Gruber](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Katie.jpg)
Kelsey Gruber
![Lilliana Stiverson](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Liliana.jpg)
Lilliana Stiverson
![Grace Jeffer](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Grace.jpg)
Grace Jeffer
![Cecelia Chowdhary](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cecilia.jpg)
Cecelia Chowdhary
![Adam Prymas](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Adam.jpg)
Adam Prymas
![Alayna Sarver](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alayna.jpg)
Alayna Sarver
![Becca Tittl](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Becca.jpg)
Becca Tittl
![Nash Malczewski](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/nassh-292x300.jpg)
Nash Malczewski
![Kaden Heldt](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/kaden.jpg)
Kaden Heldt
TAF Board of Directors & Support
![Deb Ayres](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Deb-Ayres.jpg)
Deb Ayres
President
BA, LMT, Certified Life Coach, NA Medicine Woman
![Mercy Adams](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Mercy-Adam.jpg)
Mercy Adams
Vice President
![Douglas Hoblet](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Douglas-292x300.jpg)
Douglas Hoblet
Treasurer
MBA, Data Analytics
Buckeye Broadband
![Ashley Sanchez](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ashley-Sanchez.jpg)
Ashley Sanchez
Secretary
![Matt Ayres](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/matt-292x300.jpg)
Matt Ayres
Webmaster
Great Lakes Computer Solutions
![Marcy McMahon](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Marcy-292x300.jpg)
Marcy McMahon
Governance
Founder, Make-A-Wish of NW Ohio
![Jamie Keblesh](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Keblesh.jpg)
Jamie Keblesh
Development
![Miranda Moscinski](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Miranda-Moscinski-Photo-scaled-e1636131235492.jpg)
Miranda Moscinski
Board Secretary
![Megan Jackson](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Megan-292x300.jpg)
Megan Jackson
Development
![Brittany Craig](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Brittany-Craig.jpg)
Brittany Craig
Board Member
VP, Danberry National
![Susan Hagemeyer](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Susan-Hagemeyer.jpg)
Susan Hagemeyer
Board Member
BA, Graduate student in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling Human Development
![Hyfah Hilou](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Hyfah-292x300.jpg)
Hyfah Hilou
Development Team
Financial Design Group
![Jamie Keblesh](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Keblesh-292x300.jpg)
Jamie Keblesh
Member at Large
![Jen Gruber](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Jen-Gruber.jpg)
Jen Gruber
Programs Director
![Traci Cleghorn](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Traci-Cleghorn.jpg)
Traci Cleghorn
Patient & Family Support Program Director
RN, Paramount Advantage
![Sarah Clark](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SarahClark-292x300.jpg)
Sarah Clark
#kc4k Facilitator
![Vaughn Hoblet](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vaughn-292x300.jpg)
Vaughn Hoblet
Legal Advisor
![Gina Rymers](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Gina-292x300.jpg)
Gina Rymers
Operations Assistant
Contract Transport Services
Wellness Advisory Board
![Mary Beth Crawford, M.D.](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/crawford-292x300.jpg)
Mary Beth Crawford, M.D.
Hospice & ER Physician, Motivational Speaker
![Lisa Richards, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/richards-292x300.jpg)
Lisa Richards, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC
Promedica, Endocrinology
![Guldal Caba, PhD, ND, MEd](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/caba-292x300.jpg)
Guldal Caba, PhD, ND, MEd
DrGuldal.com
![Clark Ausloos, MA, LPC, LPSC, NCC](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/clarka-292x300.jpg)
Clark Ausloos, MA, LPC, LPSC, NCC
Julie Burrow, MD and Associates
![Karen Hoblet, PhD, MSN, RN, CNL](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/karen-292x300.jpg)
Karen Hoblet, PhD, MSN, RN, CNL
Professor of Graduate Nursing, University of Toledo
![Jamie Heldt](https://kidscaringforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/jamieh-294x300.jpg)
Jamie Heldt
Vice President, Huntington Insurance
Get Involved
Let’s Work Together
Volunteer, donate, join our #KC4K board, or become a sponsor
About Us
Founded in 2017, The Avalon Foundation is committed to youth centered leadership development through service to families affected by rare diseases. Through our #Painbox program we provide emotional support to pediatric patients and their families during life-changing transitions.