Sparkle for Smiles: A Family’s Perspective
Every year, The Jiselle Lauren Foundation receives hundreds of requests for adaptive equipment, life-enhancing therapies, and help with costly medical bills. These needs are essential, and often life-changing, but the financial burden placed on families raising children with disabilities continues to grow. Our foundation exists to meet this ongoing need and to create smiles along the way.
Here’s where you come in. Join us at one of our highly anticipated, family-friendly fundraising events supporting families with disabilities in Middle Tennessee and beyond. These gatherings are fun and welcoming—but most importantly, your participation fosters moments of real joy and meaningful progress for incredible families.
What does one of our events truly mean to a family? Just ask Klara Lyle, whose family received a 2025 grant for their son, Jameson. Jameson has PURA syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that causes developmental delays and movement challenges. His family applied for funding to pursue DMI therapy, and after the 2025 Sparkle for Smiles event, they received their grant.
DMI, or Dynamic Movement Intervention, is an intensive therapy approach that insurance typically does not cover. Klara shared, “The Jiselle Lauren grant really helped us kick off 2025 in therapy.”
Because of the grant, Jameson was able to attend a three-week intensive program at a highly sought-after clinic—about an hour from their home and the only clinic offering this specific intensive model. Klara explained, “We’ve met families from other countries who have traveled to attend the clinic.” For three weeks, Jameson participated in therapy five days a week, completing three hours each day.
The progress has been remarkable. Following DMI and other therapies, Jameson is now crawling and beginning to pull up to stand independently. He has also refined the skills needed to transition from lying down to sitting—milestones his family once thought he might never achieve. “We were told that he would never do those things,” Klara said.
Klara also served as a guest speaker at Sparkle for Smiles. She described addressing the audience as one of the proudest moments of her life. “As silly as it sounds, it felt like a Miss America moment for me because I was able to stand on stage and share the story of my child who has a 1 in 800 diagnosis. That meant more to me than the grant.”
Attending one of our events is powerful because supporters don’t just donate. They connect. They meet the families who have applied for grants, hear their stories firsthand, and gain a deeper understanding of the complex realities that families navigate every day.
“The event itself was so fun and so welcoming,” Klara shared. “From the décor and entertainment to the food and the recognition they gave us as parents—we felt truly seen and heard.”
Though she was nervous before her speech, something unforgettable happened as she spoke. “When I began, the room was loud. But the longer I talked about my son, the quieter it became. By the end, you could hear a pin drop. I knew the exact moment when I had the whole room.”
Many nonprofit grant organizations serve only their immediate local communities. The Jiselle Lauren Foundation is different. While we proudly support Tennessee families, our grants also extend beyond state lines. When possible, we invite local grant recipients to attend our fundraising events, helping supporters see firsthand the impact of their generosity.
“Grants can be limited,” Klara said, “and it’s so special that The Jiselle Lauren Foundation isn’t limited by location. I hope supporters understand how much even a small donation can impact families like ours.”
Please join us as we fuel hope, progress, and possibility for more families like Jameson’s. You can find more details about our upcoming events by visiting our main page or by visiting our Instagram @thejisellelaurenfoundation.
