In the vibrant community of North Texas, 8-year-old Hadley Hanna was a beacon of joy, her laughter and boundless curiosity lighting up every space she entered. A soon-to-be third-grader at University Park Elementary in Dallas, Hadley was known for her love of nature walks, her spontaneous songs, and her doodles that filled journals with bursts of creativity. Her infectious smile could brighten the gloomiest of days, and her kind heart touched everyone—family, friends, teachers, classmates, and even strangers. But on July 4, 2025, tragedy struck when Hadley’s life was cut short in the catastrophic Hill Country floods that devastated Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, turning a summer of fun into an unimaginable loss.
The weight of this tragedy is felt deeply by all who knew her. To her parents, Doug and Carrie Hanna, and her two sisters, Hadley was the heartbeat of their family—a source of endless love and inspiration. To her teachers and peers, she was a radiant student, always asking thoughtful questions and uplifting those around her with her warmth and “sneak attack hugs.” To her community, she was a little girl with a giant presence, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of all who crossed her path.
Yet, from this profound grief, Hadley’s family and community have created something beautiful: **The Hadley Hanna Legacy Fund**, a living tribute to ensure her light continues to shine.
### The Hadley Hanna Legacy Fund
Born from heartbreak, the Hadley Hanna Legacy Fund is a testament to the joy, wonder, and compassion Hadley embodied in her eight years of life. Its mission is clear and heartfelt: to carry forward Hadley’s spirit by spreading kindness, creativity, and hope to others.
The fund is dedicated to supporting:
– **Scholarships** for students who reflect Hadley’s curiosity, compassion, and zest for learning, ensuring her love for education inspires future generations.
– **Community projects** that celebrate creativity and imagination, such as art programs, nature initiatives, and spaces where children can explore and create, just as Hadley loved to do.
– **Acts of kindness** that promote the values Hadley lived by—love, generosity, and joy—without ever needing to be taught.
Hadley’s family hopes the fund will keep her memory alive, not as a story of loss, but as a celebration of how she lived—radiantly, generously, and with a heart full of love.
### A Community in Mourning, A Community in Action
The Hill Country floods, caused by a rapid 26-foot surge of the Guadalupe River in just 45 minutes, claimed at least 129 lives, including more than 30 children, with Hadley among the seven young girls confirmed to have died at Camp Mystic. The disaster, one of the deadliest in recent U.S. history, left Kerr County and surrounding areas reeling, with 161 people still missing as of July 11, 2025. Despite the immense sorrow, the North Texas community has rallied around Hadley’s family, offering support through prayers, condolences, and contributions to her legacy fund.
Hadley’s family has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love from neighbors, first responders, and volunteers, while also requesting privacy to grieve. In a public statement, they shared, “We are deeply moved by the support from our community. While we navigate this unimaginable grief, we ask for space and compassion to honor Hadley’s memory.”
### How You Can Help
You can keep Hadley’s light shining by supporting the Hadley Hanna Legacy Fund. Every contribution, whether through donations, sharing the fund’s mission, or sending heartfelt messages, helps ensure that Hadley’s spirit continues to inspire. Her family finds solace in knowing that her love for making the world brighter will live on through these acts of kindness.
To contribute or learn more, visit the fund’s dedicated page through the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which has raised $30 million for flood relief efforts, including support for initiatives like Hadley’s fund. You can also share this story to spread awareness of Hadley’s legacy and the community’s efforts to honor her.
Hadley once dreamed of “making the world brighter with her ideas.” Through the Hadley Hanna Legacy Fund, her dream continues—in scholarships that nurture young minds, in projects that spark joy, and in the countless hearts touched by her enduring spirit.
Rest peacefully, sweet Hadley. Your light will never fade, and your story will inspire for generations to come.
