The Mia Taylor Foundation

Areas of Focus

The Mia Taylor Foundation strives to "Dig Deep" within our communities by promoting and implementing early educational programs.  Specifically, the foundation focuses on education relating to nature, the environment, health, and safety.  The foundation believes that by fostering early education, we can create a brighter future for generations to come.  

 

The original, and still one of the primary areas of focus for The Mia Taylor Foundation, is to honor children from the State of Nebraska who have passed away, by planting a memorial Tree of Life.  Planting a memorial tree is a heartfelt way to honor a loved one's memory while creating a lasting and living tribute.  For some, it is a religious or spiritual symbolization that represents the connection to all forms of creation and life, as well as the afterlife.  Planting a memorial tree also adds to the many benefits trees provide to nature, our community, and the environment. 

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In October 2024, Mia’s Inspirational Apiary (M.I.A.) was created by Mia’s father.  M.I.A. is a beekeeping program that provides education and outreach to children in the community.  Bees are crucial to the environment as pollinators, supporting the reproduction of both food crops and wild plants, and contributing to the health and stability of ecosystems. Their pollination services are vital for global food security, as approximately 75% of the world's food crops rely on bees.  Beyond food production, bees also play a role in maintaining biodiversity, as they pollinate wild plants that provide habitat and food for other species.  In short, bees are a keystone species that play a vital role in maintaining the health and productivity of the planet's ecosystems and supporting global food security. 

 

Beginning in 2025, The Mia Taylor Foundation began partnering with the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council to sponsor CPR and first aid certification training, at no cost, to children.  Mia was inspired to pursue a career in medicine after attending an American Red Cross CPR and first aid training with her father at age 10.  Thereafter, they maintained a father/daughter tradition of renewing their CPR and first aid certification training together every two years.

 

In addition to these areas of focus, The Mia Taylor Foundation also maintains an ongoing relationship and connection to College of Saint Mary, where Mia attended college as a pre-med student.   Mia chose to remain in Nebraska where she elected to pursue her education in medicine and pursue her dream of becoming a pediatrician.  Mia’s passion for nature and the environment also attracted her to College of Saint Mary.  She was intrigued by the environmental sustainability program they offered, which Mia chose as her minor. 

 

In 2021, Mia’s father established the Mia Taylor Scholarship, as well as the Mia Taylor Environmental Studies Fellowship at College of Saint Mary.  The scholarship assists young women who desire to make a difference in this world through medicine and healthcare.  The fellowship was created to carry on Mia’s passion for nature and the environment, with experiential learning opportunities that are not offered or funded by College of Saint Mary, such as the NASA Earth Science and Environmental Sustainability grant that Mia received while attending College of Saint Mary.   Mia’s father continues to offer experiential learning opportunities to the many students at College of Saint Mary through The Mia Taylor Foundation.  This includes: education about tree planting, the various types of trees and their benefits, as well as annual field trips to Lauritzen Gardens to learn about trees, plants, pollinators, the environment, and nature. 

 

 

NOTE:  In order to maximize the impact of funding, as well as prioritizing the mission of The Mia Taylor Foundation,  The Mia Taylor Foundation is committed to full transparency in its fundraising efforts.  All donations will be used to support the foundation’s mission, and no funds will be used to compensate the foundation’s board members, including Executive Director Shane Taylor, or staff.  We believe that our board members should serve in a voluntary capacity and focus on the organization's overall governance and strategic direction.