Maddie’s Big Heart Foundation is strictly volunteer run, 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization created in memory of Madeline “Maddie” Grace Schramm.  Through various fundraising events we raise money to give back to national and local organizations in honor of Maddie. Maddie was born with a congenital abdominal wall defect called an Omphalocele, a Diaphragmatic Hernia, and a life-threatening disease called Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension. Although she lived 24 hours a day attached to a ventilator and a medicine pump, she learned to crawl, talk, walk, laugh, and dance.  In September of 2015, at 2 ½ years old Maddie went to dance with the angels, free from the machines and equipment that kept her alive on earth.

 

It began with a walk in 2016 which we called March for Maddie. My niece Katie spearheaded the effort in her sophomore year of high school. We held the walk for 4 years and during that time the torch passed from my niece Katie to my niece Caroline.  The last event that we held was our March for Maddie Park After Dark. With that event, we teamed up with the local Kiwanis Club. We raised the $75,000 needed to build a sensory sensitive play area in our local downtown Stuart’s Kiwanis Park called Maddie’s Garden. Since our daughter passed away in 2015 we have raised just over $175,000 in her memory and honor

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In April, Maddie would be turning 11. We are planning a butterfly release fundraiser event on Saturday April 13, 2024. The event be held at Maddie’s Garden.  It will begin at 10am with Bagels and crafts. The butterflies will be released at 11:11.