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Glimmer of Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization showing girls and boys their strength and beauty through the donation of bald dolls and providing HOPE to families battling childhood cancer.
The story of Glimmer of Hope wouldn’t exist without the story of a beautiful, radiant girl, Ella Integlia.
Ella Catherine Integlia made the sun shine brighter when she came into the world. She was an avid reader, often lost in the world of Harry Potter or any book of her choosing. Surrounded with many loving, loyal friends she was a social butterfly. Ella was caring and sensitive, hysterically crying at sad movies. She loved animals and babies, and fell in love with her first job as a mother’s helper and her honorary “big sister” role to her twin cousins.
Upon her diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 11, Ella wrote a letter to American Girl asking them to create a bald doll, so that girls like her could feel confident, strong and courageous.
Ella lived by the motto “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” And dance in the rain she did. Ella courageously battled leukemia for two and a half years, finishing treatment on June 26th, 2018. She lived life fearlessly, visiting Ireland, spending time with friends, improving her makeup skills, and basking in the sun at Narragansett Beach.
In April of 2019, Ella relapsed. She spent the next four months fighting, awaiting a bone marrow transplant. Due to complications, Ella passed away on August 24th 2019, at the age of 14. She is forever loved, forever missed and forever shines bright.
When she got her bald doll she named the doll “Hope.” We are honored to carry on her legacy and her dream of every child battling cancer being gifted the bald doll through Glimmer of Hope Foundation.
No matter what the diagnosis we believe in cherishing every moment.
We believe girls are more than their hair and they aren’t alone!
Whether it’s a new diagnosis or a relapse, we will never forget you and your family.
To make the world a less scary place for children battling cancer, we sponsor and donate dolls and bald dolls to better help children feel represented and confident during their journey.
A magical day for a group of girls battling cancer. The Best Day Ever features: hair and makeup services, a gift basket, a catered lunch, crafts, a princess dress and a doll in a matching princess dress, followed by a professional photoshoot at a magical location!
To help heal a broken heart, we have created bereavement boxes for families we have served after their child has passed. We partner with Spencer Welch Studios to send watercolor portraits of each child as part of each box.
“I just have to tell you how unbelievably grateful I am for you helping her feel SO beautiful. The photo shoot was the first time she ever felt comfortable having nothing on her head and just showing off her cute little bald noggin outside of our house.... It’s such a gift that Glimmer of Hope helped give her and was a huge turning point for her. Thank you. 🥹🩷”
Glimmer of Hope Foundation is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that shows girls and boys their strength and beauty through the donation of bald dolls and provides HOPE to families battling childhood cancer.
Glimmer of Hope Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity (federal tax ID #851607457). All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Alison Hornung is a 23 year old graduate of the University of Rhode Island, with degrees in Global Business Management, German, and Human Development and Family Sciences. She has been a passionate childhood cancer advocate since the age of 12.
Her biggest inspiration remains her honorary “little sis,” Ella, who battled leukemia for 3 years. Ella lit a spark for Ali and all those around her that inspire them to fight for what they believe in. Ali has advocated multiple times to Congress members in D.C. and virtually for more funding for pediatric cancer in honor of Ella and all of the other fighters, survivors and angels.
Ali has raised over $350,000 for various organizations including LLS, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, The Izzy Foundation, Talia’s Legacy, The Tomorrow Fund and more. She is the founder of Miracle Masks, a small business where she has created over 2,500 face masks and donated all of the proceeds to childhood cancer foundations.
You can reach Alison at alison@glimmerofhopefoundatio
Treasurer
Debbie is a math teacher at Cranston High School West. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in math from the University of Rhode Island. She then went on and received her Master’s degree in Secondary School Counseling from The Citadel in Charleston, SC.
Debbie loves to spend time with her family. She is the wife of Gary Hornung and has two beautiful daughters, Ali and Brooke. She also enjoys traveling.
She became involved in Glimmer of Hope through her daughter Ali who is the founder and executive director. She is very proud of the work Ali has done to help pediatric cancer patients and their families. She is often behind the scenes doing whatever she can to support Ali and Glimmer of Hope.
dhornung1@verizon.net
Membership Coordinator
Lisa is a 19 year old student studying at Simmons University. She is studying sociology and law with hopes to become a prosecutor one day. Lisa has a wide variety of interests and has always been passionate for helping children who have illnesses.
Having Ali’s Mom as a teacher her senior year, she met Ali and they clicked. Lisa will do whatever she can to help others, including run for Student of the Year through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a freshman in college, knowing she would not qualify. She simply just wanted to help raise money.
Although not cancer, Lisa fought many pediatric illnesses and does everything she can to ease the lives of other kids who are fighting for the lives. She continues to do so and is more than happy to on the GOH team!
lisaegan6802@gmail.com
Outreach Coordinator
Maddie is a senior at the University of Rhode Island, finishing up her degree in public relations. A former director for an on campus pediatric cancer organization, she met the Bernard family who introduced her to Ali. After first meeting Ali, she attended the 2024 Glimmer Gala and was officially brought onto the board shortly after. She now chairs the volunteer engagement committee! Maddie is inspired by her childhood friend who beat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In her free time, Maddie can be found reading, painting, spending time with her sorority family, or listening to Taylor Swift with her friends. She loves meeting all of the patients and families, and is ecstatic to be on the Glimmer of Hope board!
Reilly Cardella is a 25 year old passionate childhood cancer advocate after losing her best friend, Kassie, to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 13. Reigning from Orlando, Reilly is extremely honored to be a Board Member for Glimmer of Hope Foundation for 2024. In 2020, Reilly began her own 501(c)3 nonprofit, Love for Ladybug, where she quickly connected with Ali through her work with Glimmer of Hope Foundation. She won the local title of “Miss Apopka 2024” with the Miss America Opportunity where she advocates for childhood cancer awareness nationally. To date, Reilly has raised $15,000 for childhood cancer awareness and has donated over $9,000 worth of brand new toys to pediatric oncology units. She has also lobbied for pediatric cancer legislation at Capitol Hill in Washington DC while attending CureFest USA. “To my best friend in the universe, Ali: Thank you for being my soul mate. Kassie and Ella are our guardian angels and I am so thankful our ‘little sisters’ brought us together. I love you so much, Bestie.”
“Life your life to its fullest with joy and purpose". Bonnie's prior profession was as an oncology RN for 12 years and then entered the Pharmaceutical clinical research arena participating on new novel oncology clinical research drug trials for over two decades. It was Bonnies late husband Rick that inspired her to take a leap of faith and pursue her passion in floral design. Rick said to her in February of 2022, “You need to do something you are passionate about before you leave this earth. Do what you love and what inspires you. And so, it was. Bonnie did
just that. Anemone Flora Bar was created.
Bonnie became involved in Glimmer of Hope when she reached out to Ali Hornung via Instagram offering to volunteer her floral services for the Fashion Show Glimmer of Hope is organizing on March 23 rd at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. It was there that a relationship grew volunteering for Ali and feeling an immense amount of pride what this young woman is dedicating her life to, all in the name to honor her dear friend Ella Integlia. It is a humbling experience to be a part of what Ali is doing to help pediatric cancer patients and their families.