Finding Purpose After Loss: Turning Pain into Hope
After the loss of her only child, one mother found herself navigating a world forever changed by grief. In the years that followed, she began transforming that pain into purpose, honoring her daughter’s life by supporting families facing childhood cancer. Through the Audrey Anne Foundation, Anne Claire (AC) Meyer now provides financial assistance, resources, toys for hospitalized children, and support for bereaved parents located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rooted in love and legacy, her mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure no family walks this journey alone and that hope can still exist, even in the hardest moments.
We had the opportunity to sit with Anne Claire. Read on below to learn more about AC and The Audrey Anne Foundation.
1. Tell us about yourself
AC Meyer: I am a bereaved mother navigating a new chapter of my life. I’m a former athlete, and I still play professional pickleball in my free time. It’s something that keeps me grounded. After Audrey’s battle with cancer, my purpose in life shifted. Everything I do now is shaped by that experience and driven by honoring her and helping others along the way.
2. What inspired you to start the nonprofit organization?
AC Meyer: A few things inspired me to start The Audrey Anne Foundation. First was finding purpose again, especially a purpose rooted in helping families who are walking the same childhood cancer journey we once did. During our time as an inpatient, I saw so many organizations and volunteers show up in the most selfless ways. People gave their time, their energy, and their hearts, and the smallest gestures brought my daughter so much joy while she was stuck in the hospital. Those moments stayed with me. I promised myself that if I ever made it out of that crisis, I would pay it forward and make sure it was my turn to help when others needed it most.
3. Was there a defining moment that made you realize this was your purpose in calling?
AC Meyer: Audrey was my only child, and after losing her, the first couple of years were simply about survival, learning how to breathe and stand again in a world that felt completely different. As time passed and I found my footing, something shifted. Helping other families walking through childhood cancer, as well as supporting other bereaved parents who have lost a child, began to feel natural and necessary. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just something I wanted to do. It was my purpose.
4. What is your organization’s mission?
AC Meyer: The Audrey Anne Foundation’s mission is to support low-income families in the Bay Area who are battling childhood cancer. We provide financial assistance, resources, and support groups to help families through an incredibly difficult time. We also support bereaved parents who have lost a child and are navigating the next chapter of their lives, whether that’s through therapy, community, or guided support. Our goal is to make sure families feel seen, supported, and not alone.
5. What’s one story or moment that truly captures why this work matters?
AC Meyer: One moment that really captures why this work matters goes back to the first year of Audrey’s Toy Drive. We fund UCSF with toys that last anywhere from six to nine months. For children who are stuck in the hospital for long stretches of time, those toys bring a sense of normalcy and happiness during an incredibly hard season. When we were inpatients at UCSF, we spent almost ten months there. I watched my daughter light up every single time Child Life walked in with a toy. In those moments, I realized these aren’t “just toys.” For a child who would much rather be outside living a normal life than fighting for their own, they represent comfort, joy, and a reminder that they are still a child.
6. How can people get involved or support your organization?
AC Meyer: There are so many ways people can get involved and support our organization. Simply spreading awareness and sharing our mission helps more than people realize. Donations can be made directly through our website to support families battling childhood cancer. People can also mail toys or sponsor a family to help cover essential needs like travel, meals, and daily expenses during treatment. Every form of support makes a real difference.
7. What role does community play in your success?
AC Meyer: Community is everything to our success. Support shows up in so many different ways: through sharing our mission, volunteering time, donating toys, sponsoring a family, or simply checking in on a family in need. This work is only possible because people come together with open hearts and a willingness to help. It’s the collective effort of the community that allows us to make a real impact.
8. What are your hopes or goals for the future of your nonprofit?
AC Meyer: My hope is for the foundation to continue growing each year so we can reach and support more families. I want to provide UCSF with toys year-round to bring comfort and normalcy to their patients. I also hope to continue helping families financially and ensuring they have the support they need as they navigate incredibly hard seasons. Above all, my goal is to help families feel hope, even during the most devastating times.
9. What message would you like to share with families currently navigating a cancer diagnosis?
AC Meyer: You are not alone. Even though it can feel incredibly isolating inside hospital walls, when you’re in crisis and survival mode, there is a community here for you. We are here to support you, walk alongside you, and remind you that you don’t have to face this journey by yourself.
10. Where can people find you /connect?
AC Meyer: People can connect with us and get involved by visiting our website at audreyanne.org or following us on Instagram @theaudreyannefoundation. We invite you to our fourth annual charity drive on March 15, 2026. Here’s more information to attend, volunteer, and/or donate. We also encourage people to stay tuned for fall 2026, when we’ll be hosting our first in-person bereavement support group.
I am grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey from the very beginning, as well as those who have recently found and connected with the foundation. I’m deeply thankful for the continued support, the trust, and the love that surrounds this mission. Everything we do is rooted in Audrey’s legacy and the love she continues to inspire.
