08/27/2026
She Still Shines.
Bella was only 24 years old.
She was a daughter, a sister, a Division I cheerleader, a coach, a mentor, and the kind of person who made everyone around her feel seen. She loved Jesus with all her heart and believed every day was an opportunity to encourage someone else. One of her favorite reminders was simple:
"You are enough."
Bella's light was contagious.
She inspired others to dream bigger, love deeper, and live with courage. Whether she was coaching young athletes, cheering on a friend, or simply offering an encouraging word, Bella made people believe they mattered.
Behind her beautiful smile, however, was a painful reality that so many victims face.
Dating abuse doesn't always leave visible bruises.
Sometimes it looks like isolation.
Sometimes it sounds like manipulation.
Sometimes it feels like fear, control, and hopelessness.
On May 20, 2022 - just five days after celebrating her 24th birthday - our family lost Bella to intimate partner violence.
But her light did not end that day.
From our greatest heartbreak, Shine Bright Like Bella was born.
Today, Bella's legacy is bringing hope to survivors, educating young people before violence begins, supporting families in crisis, and advocating for meaningful change so that other families never have to experience the unimaginable loss we have endured.
Because every life deserves to shine brightly.
How Your Gift Creates Hope
Your generosity becomes more than a donation—it becomes a lifeline.
$25 — A Ride to Safety
Provides emergency transportation, helping a survivor reach safety, attend court, or get to a critical appointment.
$50 — A Week of Hope
Provides grocery or gas gift cards, easing the financial burden for survivors and their families during a time of crisis.
$100 — Protection & Peace of Mind
Helps cover legal expenses, protective order filing costs, and other essential resources that empower survivors to take the next courageous step toward safety.
$250 — Education That Saves Lives
Supports healthy relationship and dating violence prevention education in schools and throughout our community, equipping young people to recognize red flags, build healthy relationships, and seek help before abuse escalates.
$500 — Hope for a Family in Crisis
Provides emergency financial assistance, survivor support services, counseling referrals, and community outreach that help families rebuild after abuse.
$1,000+ — Build Bella's Legacy
Helps expand every aspect of our mission—from survivor assistance and educational programs to scholarships, advocacy initiatives, and the continued pursuit of lasting legislative change through Bella's Law.
Advocacy That Creates Change
Shine Bright Like Bella is committed not only to helping survivors today but also to creating a safer tomorrow.
Through Bella's Law, we are advocating for stronger investigative standards, improved training for professionals responding to intimate partner violence, greater transparency for families, and policies that ensure warning signs are never overlooked.
Our vision is simple:
A future where every victim is heard.
Every family receives answers.
Every investigation is thorough.
Every survivor has access to support.
Every young person understands the difference between love and control.
Together, we can save lives.
Keep Bella's Light Shining
We cannot change Bella's story.
But together, we can change someone else's.
Every donation provides hope.
Every act of kindness creates healing.
Every conversation can prevent abuse.
Every life we touch keeps Bella's light shining.
This North Texas Giving Day, we invite you to become part of Bella's legacy.
Together, we can build a future where relationships are healthy, survivors are supported, families are heard, and no one has to walk through darkness alone.
Give today. Shine hope. Save lives.
In loving memory of Isabella "Bella" Nicole Gonzales
"Here am I. Send me." — Isaiah 6:8
Ending Intimate Partner Violence through education, advocacy, survivor support, and hope.
