Ella Catherine Integlia was bright, funny, compassionate, and deeply attuned to how other people felt. After being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 11 and losing her hair during treatment, Ella wrote to American Girl with a simple but powerful idea: create a bald doll so girls like her could feel represented, confident, and less alone.
When Ella received a bald doll, she named her “Hope.” The doll became a reflection of Ella’s strength, and her wish became the seed for something much larger.
Ella died in 2019 at age 14 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Glimmer of Hope was founded to carry forward the compassion behind her request. What began with dolls has grown into an ecosystem of programs supporting children, teenagers, mothers, and bereaved families.
“Ella’s legacy is not only what she endured. It is how instinctively she wanted to make the experience easier for the next child.”
Ali began advocating for childhood cancer families at age 12, inspired by her honorary little sister, Ella. She founded Glimmer of Hope to transform Ella’s wish into direct, dignified support for families—and has grown the organization from a doll program into a multi-program foundation rooted in confidence, connection, and joy.
Her work spans program design, national advocacy, public speaking, fundraising, and strategic partnerships. Across every part of Glimmer, Ali’s focus remains the same: listen closely to families, respond meaningfully, and create the kind of support they can truly feel.
Ella’s life and wish become the inspiration for a mission centered on representation and hope.
The foundation launches, initially focused on gifting bald dolls to children in treatment.
Ella’s life and wish become the inspiration for a mission centered on representation and hope.
Our next chapter is focused on expanding access, measuring outcomes, and building lasting support systems.
Family Engagement Manager
Megan supports children and families navigating childhood cancer with compassion, connection, and unwavering care. Before stepping into this role, Megan spent three years as a dedicated volunteer and has served on the foundation’s board for the past year, bringing both lived experience and deep commitment to the families she serves.
With more than 15 years of experience in Human Resources and people leadership, Megan blends professional expertise with heartfelt dedication. She builds trusting relationships quickly, advocates fiercely for families, and creates meaningful experiences that bring joy during unimaginably difficult moments. Megan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from SUNY Brockport, a foundation that strengthened her communication skills and her ability to connect deeply with others.
Originally from Western New York and now rooted in Rhode Island, Megan is a proud mom to her 5‑year‑old daughter, Winter. She enjoys traveling, Disney adventures, music, and reading — passions that bring light, creativity, and joy into her work and life. Megan is deeply committed to fostering connection and support within her community.
Executive Assistant
Brooke Hornung is a graduate of the University of Alabama with degrees in business and entrepreneurship. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Speech Language Pathology at Ithaca College. She is a former HR Professional and is passionate about helping others.
Brooke has been a childhood cancer advocate for many years in honor of her friend, Ella. She has lobbied numerous times on Capitol hill and has volunteered for multiple organizations in addition to Glimmer of Hope. Brooke's goal is to make every child feel comfortable and confident.
Programs Manager
Reilly Cardella, 26, is a passionate childhood cancer advocate whose mission was born from personal loss. She was just 13 when her best friend, Kassie, passed away from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a life-changing moment that continues to guide her purpose.
Based in Orlando, Reilly proudly serves as the Board Vice President for the Glimmer of Hope Foundation. In 2020, she founded her own 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Love for Ladybug, through which she connected with Glimmer of Hope founder, Ali Hornung. Their shared commitment to honoring Kassie and Ella’s legacies has fueled a powerful friendship and a united front in the fight against pediatric cancer.
A former Miss Apopka 2024 in the Miss America Opportunity, Reilly used her platform to elevate childhood cancer awareness on a national scale. To date, she has raised over $15,000 and donated more than $9,000 worth of toys to pediatric oncology units. She has also lobbied on Capitol Hill for increased pediatric cancer funding while attending CureFest USA.
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.
Board President
Lisa Egan, 23, is a recent graduate of Simmons University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Psychology, Political Science, and Law & Justice. Lisa began her journey with Glimmer of Hope in 2021 as an intern and now proudly serves as Board President.
Throughout her time with the foundation, Lisa has played a key role in fundraising and advocacy efforts; including pushing for increased childhood cancer research funding on Capitol Hill. Her leadership is rooted in compassion and action, forming meaningful bonds with families and uplifting children fighting cancer.
Lisa is deeply committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of both patients and their parents. With a heart full of purpose, and a lifelong love for Disney, she shares Ella’s light in everything she does.
To connect with Lisa, email
lisa@glimmerofhopefoundation.org.
Secretary
Katy Gamba is a results-driven project and relationship manager with over 15 years of experience leading large-scale national and international rollouts. A graduate of Bryant University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Project Management Certification, Katy has built her career managing multimillion-dollar projects across industries, from healthcare research to audio-visual integration and facilities management.
Currently a Senior Project Manager at AVI Systems, Katy oversees complex operations, from construction supervision and vendor negotiations to cross-functional team leadership, delivering projects on time and within budget. She is recognized for her executive presence, adaptability in fast-paced environments, and ability to foster strong client partnerships.
Katy brings her operational expertise and passion for strategic planning to Glimmer of Hope, where she is committed to advancing the foundation’s mission. Her leadership skills and eye for detail help strengthen organizational systems, enabling the team to reach and support more children and families facing cancer.
Outside of work, Katy enjoys connecting with her community and applying her skills to causes close to her heart.
Giada is a student at Catholic University of America pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Art and Design with a Minor in Marketing. She has a strong passion for nonprofit work and has dedicated her time to use her love for art and design to support children battling cancer through multiple clubs and organizations. Giada was the social media coordinator for her Student Visionaries of the Year campaign with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where her team raised over $150,000 and won Rhode Island Student Visionaries of the Year. Giada was childhood friends with Ella, and has been inspired by her bright spirit and courageous heart ever since. When she first heard of Glimmer of Hope’s Junior Board, as a sophomore in high school, she immediately knew she wanted to apply, and has been working with Glimmer of Hope ever since. Giada has absolutely loved being part of the Glimmer of Hope team. She takes pride in using her creative talents to help spread hope and raise awareness for pediatric cancer. In her free time, Giada enjoys designing, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is honored to continue supporting Glimmer of Hope’s mission and keeping Ella’s legacy alive.
Juliette Ashley Valle blends journalism, law, music, and public service. At 19, she was named a Hispanic Woman of Distinction as the inaugural “Up and Comer Latina.” That year she released Joyfully Juliette Valle, a charity album benefiting chronic kidney disease causes.
She earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Miami in 2023 while training in classical voice at the Frost School of Music and reporting for UMTV. That June, Juliette was crowned Miss Florida 2023, the second Hispanic titleholder in 89 years, and later placed Top 10 at Miss America 2024, delivering the pageant’s first bilingual answer and championing Latina visibility with, “It’s hard to be her when you can’t see her.” She is building Rise Up, Latinas!, a mentorship network for education and career growth.
In 2025 she interned as a National News Associate Producer at Fox News. This fall she begins as a Florida Gubernatorial Fellow while pursuing her J.D. at Florida State University College of Law, tuition fully funded. She is also earning a master’s in Business and Management at Harvard Extension School. Grounded in service and storytelling, Juliette empowers young women to lead.
