Glimmer of Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization showing girls their strength and beauty through donating bald dolls and bringing HOPE to families battling childhood cancer.

Ella Catherine Integlia was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 11 years old. She went through 2.5 years of treatment and about 10 months in remission before relapsing at the age of 14. Ella passed away after a valiant battle on August 24th 2019.

Ella was an avid reader and discovered a love for writing as well. Ella touched and inspired so many others with her love, strength, wisdom, and humor. She loved children and aspired to use that gift to become a teacher one day. She loved fashion, makeup, music, dance, and hanging out with her many friends. Ella had been an active Girl Scout for the past 8 years and proudly earned her Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve.

After being diagnosed with leukemia at age 11 and losing her hair, Ella wanted girls like her to feel confident, strong and courageous in their battle. Ella wrote a letter to American Girl asking them to create a bald doll, and her dream was for every girl battling cancer to receive the bald doll. She named her doll “Hope,” which is the reason behind the name “Glimmer of Hope.”

Ella was always so girly and sparkly, and the color for childhood cancer awareness is gold, which is the reason behind “Glimmer” in our name. Ella still gives us hope that there is goodness and kindness in this world and that there will one day be a cure for childhood cancer.

Ella may not be with us physically, but is still spreading her light to thousands through “Hope.”

Ella’s wish is coming true, girls around the world are being gifted the bald doll. We cannot thank her enough for her selfless heart and we are honored to carry on her legacy.