The organization was founded in May 1999 as a local grassroots effort to perpetuate the memory of Jenna Kamil and to raise funds to provide comfort and care for critically ill children and their families.

Jenna died in May 1999 at the age of 7, after a 2-year fight with brain cancer. Her strength and spirit and the outpouring of support from a caring community were the motivation for establishing this foundation.