Dancing in the Rain: How Sweet Julia Grace Foundation Brings Hope to Families with a Child in Medical Crisis
By SHEILA MURPHY
Photos by DEANA HALLY AND SARA KNIGHT
n April 2025 the Social4Good (S4G) community came together to support families facing the unimaginable: caring for a child with a life-altering or terminal illness. Their chosen nonprofit
of the month, the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation (SJGF), is no stranger to walking alongside those living through life’s fiercest storms. The result? A collaboration that will bring human connection to the lonely halls of the pediatric ICU and remind families that they are not alone.
FROM GRIEF TO ACTION
Founded in 2014 by Sara Knight, SJGF was born out of love and loss. Sara’s daughter, Julia Grace, lived with a rare genetic disorder called I-Cell disease. Despite her diagnosis, Julia radiated joy and resilience, inspiring those around her. She lived by the mantra and quote by Vivian Greene, “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” After Julia passed away at age 12, Knight channeled her grief into action, founding SJGF to honor her daughter’s legacy.
“SJGF started with one child. My child. But what we saw as
we met more families was an overwhelming need,” said Sara Knight at S4G’s April gathering. “Julia Grace taught us to live in the present. The families we serve are not waiting for a better day to have a good day. They are in the here and now.”
SJGF’s mission is to celebrate and love children who are seriously ill, have special needs, or are facing a medical crisis. The Foundation provides non-medical support, grants wishes,
and fills gaps that other services cannot. Children supported by SJGF are affectionately called “Raindancers,” symbolizing their ability to find joy amid adversity.
CUTTING THROUGH RED TAPE, OFFERING REAL SUPPORT
What sets SJGF apart is its no-red-tape approach. Families don’t need to submit lengthy applications or wait weeks for help. If a child is facing a serious medical crisis, SJGF says “yes” as often as possible, regardless of diagnosis or previous support received.
From providing adaptive wheelchairs and special needs strollers, to organizing end-of-treatment parades or gifting therapy puppies, the Foundation’s approach is simple: fill the gap, meet the need, and be the supportive community these families deserve.
One of SJGF’s most transformative programs, the All-Terrain Wheelchair Program, gives children the freedom to explore beyond hospital walls and sidewalks—something as basic as laying outside can be life-changing for
a child with significant issues. Because of the high cost of these vehicles, the Foundation is currently looking for
corporate sponsors. They also run community-building initiatives like family holiday parties, grief support for moms,
nd aquatic therapy sessions.
THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE PHILANTHROPY
Each month, S4G mobilizes its network of women across Northern Virginia to learn about and support a local nonprofit making a difference. For April 2025, S4G chose SJGF, and
the partnership focused on two tangible goals. The first goal was to raise grant monies for SJGF’s Rainy Day Fund, a vital resource covering non-medical essentials like utility bills, housing, travel costs for specialized care, and medical food or formula.The second goal was to purchase items for and assemble parent care packages that include toiletries, snacks, comfort items, and gift cards to support caregivers sleeping in hospital rooms or navigating endless days in pediatric ICUs. S4G raised a total of $5,672 in both dollar and in-kind donations and assembled 50 care packages for SJGF’s Hospital Program, which supports families at INOVA, NIH, and other local facilities.
A LEGACY THAT LIVES ON :
Julia Grace’s legacy lives on in each Rain dancer and aquatic therapy sessions. that carries her spirit:
brave, joyful, and loving. With the help of organizations like S4G, SJGF continues to build a future where no family walks through a pediatric medical crisis alone. As the yellow umbrella in the foundation’s logo suggests—there is always hope, even in the rain.
Want to help? Learn more at www.sweetjuliagrace.org. Support future S4G projects at www.social4good.community.
About Social4Good: S4G is an all-volunteer, grassroots organization that brings together engaged women who want to meet new people and support the organizations that make our community strong. Each month, this column will highlight S4G’s monthly project to raise awareness of critical needs in our community and local nonprofits making a difference. To learn more about S4G or to support local nonprofits, visit www. social4good.community.
