Community Spotlight: Ella Foard Foundation

Bragg Financial is proud to support the Ella Foard Foundation. Client Service Associate Crystal Draper has served on the Foundation’s board since 2015. She developed a deep personal connection to the Foundation’s mission after becoming friends with the Foard family in 2013, and values the opportunity to play a direct role in supporting research toward a cure.

Founded in 2009, the Ella Foard Foundation is a Charlotte-based nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of Rett syndrome and supporting research aimed at finding a cure. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that primarily affects young girls; in boys, it is typically fatal in early infancy. The condition gradually causes children to lose skills they have already learned—from speech and hand use to mobility—and leads to severe cognitive, motor, and communication impairments.

Established in honor of Ella Foard, who was diagnosed with Rett syndrome in 2008, the Foundation has grown into a grassroots movement fueled by determination, family, and community support. Through fundraising events, awareness campaigns, and financial support for medical research, the organization works to advance understanding of Rett syndrome and accelerate progress toward effective treatments—and, ultimately, a cure.

To learn more about the organization and how you can get involved, visit ellafoard.org.