“In memory of Kennedy Austin”
A Mother's Love, A Community's Strength
In 1993, Ms. Ethel Gardner experienced every parent's worst nightmare—the loss of her teenage son, Kennedy Austin. In the depths of her grief, she discovered a profound truth: healing comes through helping others.
Rather than letting her pain consume her, Ms. Gardner channeled it into a mission of hope. She founded the Kennedy Austin Foundation as a family crisis intervention center, partnering with the City of Pomona as a “first responder” to families in crisis.
Her dedication has not gone unnoticed. Ms. Gardner was named Pomona's “Hero of the Year” and later recognized as California's “2015 Woman of the Year” for her tireless service to the community.
Today, the Kennedy Austin Foundation continues to serve Pomona, Claremont, and La Verna, California, providing free crisis intervention, grief counseling, and support services to youth and families navigating life's most challenging moments.