About the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund
This fund supports general charitable, educational, religious, and scientific purposes. It was founded in 2023 in honor of Sienna Berry to bring her bright light to make grants for mental health support and research. Grants also assist organizations supporting academic and dance education and faith-based organizations.
About the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund
Gift fund memorializes daughter after tragic loss, brings healing resources to the mental health crisis.
After the Berry family lost their daughter and sister, Sienna, in March 2023 they created the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund to honor her life by helping others. In this Q&A, learn more about how the fund is already active in support of mental health research and other programs, and the Berrys’ big plans for its future.
Why did your family decide to memorialize Sienna with this fund?
Our family created the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund to truly honor Sienna’s life by helping others. Sienna was our daughter, Luca’s sister, our family and friend. She was full of life, caring, talented at whatever she set her mind to, a good listener and a great friend. We lost Sienna on March 15, 2023, age 14, due to mental health challenges that we weren’t aware of.
The loss of Sienna has been indescribably devastating, heartbreaking and life altering. We want to help other families prevent this type of tragedy from happening. We plan to award grants in areas of mental health research and support, faith-based organizations and athletic programs to eliminate suffering from mental illnesses by spreading mental health awareness and support.
What do you want potential donors and future grantees to know about Sienna?
Sienna loved life, dance, her family and her friends. She was silently battling mental health challenges as many people are today. She was a bright light for others and the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund will bring healing resources to the mental health crisis.
What are your goals for this fund? What do you hope the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund will achieve?
We want to help other families prevent this type of tragedy from happening. We plan to award grants in areas of mental health research and support, faith-based organizations and athletic programs to eliminate suffering from mental illnesses by spreading mental health awareness and support.
What are some projects or organizations the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund has supported in the past or would like to in the future?
35th Walk for Hope
The Grow with Sienna team raised almost $32,000 for the 35th Walk for Hope in October 2023. All funds went to the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Mood Disorder Program (CHAAMP) at UNC. CHAAMP is a cutting-edge multidisciplinary research program that investigates the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in youth.
Grow with Sienna Kentucky Derby Fundraiser
On May 4, 2024, the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund raised $15,000 for CHAAMP at UNC.
As of May 2024, the fund has raised nearly $50,000 for this cutting-edge program focused on anxiety and mood disorders in youth.
NCFC Soccer Club
The Grow with Sienna Giving Fund has sponsored a field at the NCFC Soccer Club from 2024 to 2026. Field sponsorships provide financial support to youth who otherwise could not afford to participate in soccer.
The sponsorship also helps bring awareness about mental health to families.
Upcoming plans for 2024 and 2025 include:
- 36th Walk for Hope: the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund is building a team for the 2024 event to help raise money for CHAAMP.
- NCFC Sports Psychology with Dr. Bradley Hack: to encourage greater awareness of mental health among athletes and their caregivers. Dr. Hack is one of the nation’s leading sports psychologists.
Why is it important to support this fund?
Education and support can save lives. As times change, research is crucial to keep current with mental illness challenges and solutions for children, teens and adults.
You can take action by:
- Donating to the Grow with Sienna Giving Fund
- Applying for grants from the fund. To learn more, contact growwithsienna@gmail.com.
- Helping spread awareness of mental health conditions and support of people with mental illness.
- Checking in on loved ones, especially those who seem to have it all together.
