Katherine's Fundraiser for Hannah's Happy Day Fnd

Hannah's Happy Day Foundation was established in honor of Hannah Mansell.  For those who may not have had the privilege of knowing Hannah, she was a radiant presence, known for her bright smile and infectious laughter that brought warmth to every room. Hannah dedicated her career to serving as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter within a central Illinois school district. Her passion for her work and her unwavering commitment to her students exemplified her deep-rooted kindness and empathy.

Tragically, in January 2021, at the age of 26, Hannah's vibrant life was cut short due to Covid-19, leaving her family, friends, and all who knew her in profound grief. #forever26 marks not just the time she spent with us but also a reminder of the impact she made through her short but meaningful life.

In the wake of this immense loss, we, Hannah's family and friends, are devoted to preserving and advancing her legacy of kindness. We invite you to join us in this journey—by helping us to share kindness, one act at a time.

FOUNDATION IMPACT

Kindness Mini-Grants

Each semester,  Hannah's Happy Day Foundation awards Kindness Mini-Grants to classrooms in the Jacksonville and surrounding areas. Teachers apply for grants amounting from $50-$300 to use in their classrooms for projects encouraging their students to show kindness to others within their schools or communities.  

Examples of Completed Kindness Grants (just a sampling): 

North School*Pay it Forward Day- Jacksonville Middle School

*Welcome Kits (made by students) for new students coming to the school mid-year - South Jacksonville School

*Cross Town Activity Sharing a Story (Each student planted a flower and got their own copy of the book.)- Eisenhower and Lincoln Elementary Schools

ISD*Kindness Station Day: Students put together kits for local unhoused individuals, made dog treats for PAWS, built a picnic table that was donated to the VOA apartment community in Jacksonville, made t-shirts for veterans, practiced courtesy skills, put together candy bags for residents in long term-care facilities and practiced kindness to themselves with yoga. - Illinois School for the Deaf High School

*STEM Activities for a general education class and a special education class to promote inclusion- North School

Hannah's Happy Day Foundation is so excited to be part of spreading kindness among students.  We have received such positive feedback, and there is no measure to the ripple effect these classroom projects will have. We hope to be able to provide and perhaps expand these grants for years to come.

#KindnessForHannah
Hannah loved and was dedicated to her job as an ASL Interpreter in the Eastern Illinois Area Special Education (EIASE) Coop in Mattoon, IL. She had a special connection with the students and they loved her. Besides being committed to clearly conveying English messages to them in ASL, she loved and cared deeply about each one of them.

Scholarship
Hannah was proud to receive her ASL Interpreting degree from William Woods University in Fulton, MO.   Hannah loved, and made the best of every minute of her time at WWU, learning and mastering her craft  (winning several awards), making lifelong friends, and becoming a leader.

For more detailed information, please feel free to visit the Foundation Website: hannahshappydayfoundation.org