The Mia Taylor Foundation

09/28/2024

To kick off the CTK Fall Festival, The Mia Taylor Foundation planted a Royal Raindrop Crabapple tree, in memory of Lizzy Swoboda, near the Children’s playground. A special thanks to Eddie Codr and his family, Omaha Landscaping, and the Dave Spence Foundation for your contributions in helping to make this a special day for the Swoboda family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always Lizzy! 💜💜

09/16/2024

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mia! 1,827 days and counting...

When you lose someone you love, a piece of you goes missing. A part of your heart is forever gone, and when reality hits, you realize you will never get that piece of your heart back. To get up, go on, and do your best to exist each and every day without those you love, along with that piece of your heart, is a battle we will forever endure until we leave this world and are one day reunited with them. However, I believe the bonds with our loved ones, who have passed, can evolve and enable us to remain connected with them. If you can find that unique and personal connection for yourself and your loved one in Heaven, it allows your bond to live on. Whether it is something you choose to do daily, weekly, monthly, or at your choosing, remaining connected in your own unique and special way is a way that might help you survive on your journey.

On September 16, 2019, my Mia told me the only thing she wanted for her birthday was for me to be healthy and to “live for a long time”. She always said that she would look after me when I was a “little old man”. This was Mia, always thinking about others, especially her dad and those she really cared about. I have never known anyone to have such a big heart from such a young age. At that time, I had recently received some concerning test results from bloodwork relating to a work injury I sustained. My doctor also had some concerns about the elevated numbers. Mia, my aspiring pediatrician, told me that she wanted me to start drinking more water (128 ounces each day to be exact) and she believed this would be a great start to better health. Mia said that for her birthday present, she wanted me to start drinking 128 oz. each day and that was all she wanted. Of course, that was not all she received, but this was one of the most memorable birthdays, especially now, that I ever shared with her. Mia then set up an app on my phone and said, “Please do this for both of us dad!” “I want you to be healthy forever!” This was five years ago today and I have not missed a day… I'm still doing it for both of us Mia!

Sure, there have been signs and there have been so many positive memories to reflect upon. However, every time I open this app, which is multiple times each day, to log my water intake I see Mia’s face and her smile. I also hear Mia's caring and loving words from that day. It was her birthday and the only thing she wanted was for me to be healthy. So, here we are 1827 consecutive days (5 years) with at least 128 ounces of water (refer to photos...). My blood tests have never been better, and this has become yet another daily ritual, and bond, that has evolved and kept me connected to my Mia.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mia! There's not a minute, hour, day or night that I don't think about or love you!

Love, dad!

03/13/2024

https://secure.getmeregistered.com/homepage.php?id=134826&fbclid=IwAR0FIU0iW7V9HyZpfZCOiZeRqE5P2DqGZ3GrejIZzEiuqMZltYR-n5pGEpA

"Dig Deep" for Mia! We tragically lost my daughter Mia on November 18, 2020, but I would like to thank you for stopping by and showing your interest and support to KKAD25, Tom Everson, and my Mia (in Spirit). This is such a great event that brings amazing people together to support the families who....

08/20/2023

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/17/1194237181/yellow-legged-hornet-georgia?utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&fbclid=IwAR0aV7FnurH9CXu5hyPsUWNk7qy4Tt9UB7IpIwUgXS_S4pRcmbKZQ4eCGHU_aem_AXpnGGeECzAb47DnqEIDjQ_f3DiHHW95gyCKaP2Hk0WGIZ9yLzjVVPtqOfRxpjd8mhM

The yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina, is a close cousin of the northern giant hornet, or "murder hornet." Both of them are very adept in the wholesale destruction of honey bees.

04/22/2023

The Mia Taylor Foundation is selling trees to celebrate Earth Day and raise funds for the scholarship in honor of the late College of Saint Mary student.

04/22/2022

Greetings to All. Today Is Earth Day! Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection in our world. Over a billion people each year mark this date as a date of action. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and was the brainchild of Senator Ga***rd Nelson of Wisconsin, who later collaborated with John McConnell and Dennis Hayes, all staunch environmentalists. Earth Day now includes events in more than 193 countries.

Mia Taylor, who had been a pre-med major, minoring in Environmental Sustainability, which was a heartfelt passion of hers. This fervent passion of hers encompassed her love of nature, recycling and gardening of nearly any type. Her passion began at a very young age while assisting her grandfather, "Poppa Gene" at his home alongside him, as they planted their vegetable garden, flowers, and trees.

While attending The College of St. Mary (CSM), Mia had been appointed as President of the CSM Green Team, which later awarded her the opportunity to travel to NASA in order to further her education in environmental sustainability. It was these experiences that fueled her passion to do even more for our environment!

Individually, we can each make a difference. Collectively, we can make a much larger difference and a positive impact on the world. This is not a blue vs. red issue, conservative vs. liberal issue, and the health of our planet and the world in which we and our loved ones live in should not a platform for anger and hostility. If you are willing to start recycling, plant a tree, or even further educating yourself and loved ones about things that can be done to help or improve our world, our environment, that this a great start.

We never know the worth of water, until the well is dry -
Thomas Fuller

The Mia Taylor Foundation is continuously working to honor Mia's dedication and heartfelt devotion for the preservation of the environment and nature conservation.
The mission of The Mia Taylor Foundation is to build upon the legacy that Mia left behind by continuing her dedication, devotion and passion to the environment and nature conservation. Mia was also passionate about helping to improve the lives of those in need. Some of the primary ways the foundation plans to continue this, includes the following:
• Dedication to funding scholarships; expanding experiential learning opportunities to those passionate about the environment; establishing outdoor educational areas to complement indoor classroom settings; bringing advanced environmental sustainability education (masters and doctorate programs) to the State of Nebraska, and much more.
• Continue working with the College of Saint Mary (where Mia attended college), to further the advancement of environmental sustainability through scholarships and educational learning opportunities in an ongoing effort to improve and conserve the environment.

For more information or to donate, please go to www.themiataylorfoundation.org.

This Earth Day, please consider doing something, no matter how big or small, that will positively impact your world and ours. Thank you from both Mia (in Spirit) and me (Shane Taylor, Mia’s father).

The mission of The Mia Taylor Foundation is to build upon the legacy that Mia left behind by continuing her dedication, devotion and passion to the environment and nature conservation.  Mia was also passionate about helping to improve the lives of those in need.  One of the primary ways the founda...

03/26/2022

Earth Hour isn't just a symbolic movement - it's a catalyst for real change. Here are some of our major milestones and wins over the years.