Emily Eaton died a year ago from the H1N1 flu but a charity formed in her honor will help her spirit live on.The IRS granted Emily’s Path tax exempt status, Eaton’s father Dale said this week. Eaton formed the charity with his wife after receiving financial support from relatives, friends and doctors that cared for her. Emily had a form of autism, but instead of being shy and reserved, she was a very social young girl.
“She had a unique way of caring about people that she didn’t know and we wanted something that would continue that spirit with children like her,” Eaton said.
The charity, which has a website, is dedicated to bringing happiness to children who are facing challenges in their lives. Among the donations it has already made are buying therapeutic toys for a playgroup of disabled children and paying the summer camp tuition of a child whose father got a job overseas.
The charity has already raised and given away several thousand dollars, Eaton said though he declined to give specifics.
“But like most charities, never enough.”
Matt Lehman-WSAU