Mica Hammond Fund
The Mica Hammond Fund honors the memory of Mica Hammond, who passed away before her fifth birthday in 2013.
Mica was always upbeat and brought joy to her family, friends and community. She struggled with health and development her whole life. Yet she traveled the world and was involved in many activities. When she laughed she made everybody laugh. When she smiled she made everybody smile. A gentle soul who spoke volumes with her beautiful eyes.
Mica was undiagnosed, but her symptoms included global developmental delay, which led to low muscle tone, and in turn to aerodigestive issues.
For much of her life she had a homemade blended diet via a G-tube feeding tube.
Apply for Assistance
Reimbursement for G-Tube Diets
The Mica Hammond Fund awards approximately $2000 annually, periodically as needed, to help pay valid noninsured expenses related to and incurred by needs-based families that use blended diets for G-tubed special needs children.
Education Assistance
The Mica Hammond Fund awards approximately two $1000 scholarships annually to needs-based families of children with rare or undiagnosed diseases to help those children or immediate family members attend college/education
The Mica Hammond Fund’s Two Purposes:
Purpose 1:
To give awards totaling approximately $2000 annually, periodically as needed, to help pay valid noninsured expenses related to and incurred by needs-based families that use blended diets for G-tubed special needs children.
Mica was at her healthiest and strongest during the period she used a feeding tube. About half a million children and adults in the United States rely on feeding tubes. There are over 350 conditions and diseases that can require tube feeding in children. The most common type of feeding tube is the one Mica had, a “G-tube,” in her stomach. They can save, prolong, and improve lives. However, getting the right information, nutrition, practices, supplies and equipment, is often a difficult task, a grey area for the medical/therapy communities, and expensive / uninsured. Especially for families who choose to pursue so-called “blended diets” which are homemade foods that are blenderized – as opposed to processed formula. The
Mica Hammond Fund wants to help special needs families who have decided to bear the expense of making food for the G-tube kids.
Purpose 2:
To award approximately two $1000 scholarships annually to needs-based families of children with rare or undiagnosed diseases to help those children or immediate family members attend college/education
The myriad challenges related to caring for those with rare and undiagnosed special needs are can be both daunting and fulfilling. This applies to the entire family – the child, the parents, and the siblings. The Mica Hammond Fund wants to help ensure they can take advantage of their unique experience being part of these special families, and help others, by helping fund their education.
Engage with the Mica Hammond Fund
Meet the Mica Hammond Fund
Jacob Hammond, Administrator
Jacob is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. His goals for the Fund are to continue to help as many families as he can impacted by rare disease and those trying to afford natural tube feeding, through not only scholarships and reimbursements but also awareness and partnerships. His community commitments also include an interest in environmental policy, having served on Fairfax County’s Environmental Quality Advisory Council; at Madison House, Charlottesville Elementary Schools, Food for Others, and Share of Mclean. He’s also involved in youth sports; he was named Coach of the Year by McLean Youth Basketball. Along with his family is a devoted foster to many rescued animals working with Wolf Trap Animal Rescue. He aspires to attend law school and is currently working for a Washington DC law firm with hopes of eventually using his JD to advance the goals of the Fund and beyond.
Helena Hammond, Administrator
Helena is a student at Langley High School in the Washington D.C. area. Helena is Co-Administrator of the Mica Hammond Fund which honors her twin sister Mica. Her goal for the Fund is to help as many rare-disease special needs families as she can by working to get them the education and nutrition they need. The Mica Hammond Fund achieves this through direct aid, awareness and community partnerships.
Helena’s community leadership began while she was in elementary school when, despite Covid, she led a Washington DC-wide food drive for underprivileged girls & their families, partnering with Space of Her Own. Since then her volunteer and leadership work has included Library of Congress, Wolf Trap Animal Rescue and service organizations such as the National Honor Society and UNICEF. Helena has also performed with the local bands and choirs at major venues including Capital One Arena, and rowed crew for Langley.
Charlotte Lindell and Jamie Hammond, Fund Administrators
Charlotte’s a real estate finance attorney and executive in the Washington, DC area, as well as a member of several local mission-driven organizations
Jamie is CEO of Everlast Digital, a digital and media consulting firm in the Washington, DC area. His other volunteer work includes the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps. You can find Jamie at https://www.twitter.com/jbhjamie and https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehammond
Donations
By Mail:
Mica Hammond Memorial Fund
CharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation
13100 Filly Lane | Truckee, CA | 96161
Use credit a card by clicking the link below.
The above Memorial Fund is established as a division of Charitysmith Nonprofit Foundation (EIN 87-0636433). All donations are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax law. Receipts for tax purposes are sent via US Mail within two weeks of donation. Please consider asking if your employer participates in a gift-matching program. If so, your donation may be matched by your employer.
For questions regarding your donation or this memorial fund please contact CharitySmith.