# A Fund for Hanna Dessie

If there is one meaningful thing we can do to honor Jeri's life and legacy, it is to invest in the future of the person she loved most: her daughter, Hanna.

Our goal is to raise $100,000 to establish a fund that will provide Hanna with long-term stability, opportunity, and a solid financial foundation as she builds the future her mother worked so hard to create for her.

Hanna is entering her senior year at Howard University while navigating the profound loss of her mother. Like many young adults facing the unexpected loss of a parent, she must now balance grief, education, work, and the practical realities of building a life without the person who was her greatest champion. While she has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and determination, she is now beginning this next chapter without the support system every young adult deserves.

What makes Hanna so deserving of our support is not simply her circumstances, but who she is.

Hanna is an exceptional young woman whose talent, discipline, and determination reflect the very best of her mother. A strong student and accomplished performer, she has successfully balanced the demands of higher education with a growing professional career in dance and entertainment. She has toured with Lizzo, been selected as a backup dancer for Sean Paul, and continues to pursue her ambitions with focus, grace, and professionalism. Most recently, Hanna earned a coveted summer internship in Marketing at Nike, Inc. at its Beaverton, Oregon headquarters—a testament to both her academic excellence and her growing professional promise.

Beyond her artistic accomplishments, Hanna is a dedicated student, an accomplished athlete, and a young woman of remarkable resilience. She has consistently demonstrated the work ethic, character, and perseverance necessary to create a meaningful future for herself.

This fund is intended to provide Hanna with more than financial assistance—it is meant to create a lasting foundation from which she can pursue her ambitions with confidence. Contributions will be invested and thoughtfully managed to support important milestones throughout her life, including tuition and educational expenses, graduate studies should she choose to pursue them, housing, healthcare, career development opportunities, and other essential needs that will help her continue building the future she and her mother envisioned.

The fund will be administered by a Trustee, who will oversee its management and ensure that it is stewarded responsibly and used solely for Hanna's long-term benefit.

We are asking everyone whose life was touched by Jeri—as well as the organizations, schools, employers, colleagues, and communities she supported throughout her life—to consider making a contribution and sharing this effort with others. Every gift, regardless of size, becomes an investment in Hanna's future and in the legacy of a remarkable mother who dedicated her life to lifting others.

Jeri spent her life believing in people and helping them realize their potential. Today, we have the opportunity to honor that legacy by ensuring that Hanna has the same opportunity to pursue her dreams with hope, stability, and confidence.

Together, we can transform remembrance into action and create a lasting legacy—one that will continue to support a remarkable young woman for years to come.