About

MISSION and values

Penney Girls Foundation is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of chronically ill children, their families and their communities. This can come in many forms, from providing families with the resources they need to focus on a child in the hospital to supporting parents while they care for children both at home and in care facilities to helping patients become more independent as they grow into adulthood and beyond. Every dollar raised by Penney Girls Foundation contributes toward its three goals to:

Our mission at Penney Girls Foundation is mending hearts and minds.

Support and advocate for families of chronically ill children

Raise awareness about organ donation

Raise awareness and support research for pediatric cardiac care

Meet Our
Founders

Through our own personal experiences, we recognized the opportunity to create an inclusive environment among chronically ill children and their families, regardless of needs. Advocacy, education and support can help establish this connectivity and potentially advance a child and family’s road to recovery and eventually lead to a life of “normalcy.”

The real life Penney Girls are Arianna, Katrina and Lucienne – sisters who together overcome challenges and celebrate life. For them, the ordinary things in life are actually “extraordinary.”

Arianna

Arianna Penney was born in May 2000 as the oldest Penney Girl. She became the pinnacle of strength at a young age through caring for and supporting her sisters. Arianna’s kindness and encouragement define inclusivity.

Katrina Mae

Katrina Mae Penney was born with severe congenital heart defects in March 2003. Her condition was so severe that no surgery could fix her heart, so Katrina received a heart transplant at just nine weeks old. The decision of her donor family gave Katrina a second chance of life. Now, she lives every day to its fullest.

Lucienne

Lucienne Penney was born with congenital hydrocephalus, an abnormal buildup of fluid in the brain, in May 2005. At just 2 weeks old, a ventricular posterior shunt was placed in her head to release the pressure. Because of these complications, Lucienne has cortical vision impairment and developmental delays. Although she may see the world differently than others, Lucienne is a vision of inspiration.

Through the years, the Penney Girls have always appreciated others’ inclusion, and they want to do the same. They have met many chronically ill children and their families and been the beneficiaries of excellent medical institutions and care from doctors, nurses, therapists, child life specialists and many others. These experiences have been both life-changing and inspiring, providing an example of the ways community is an essential part of children’s lives.

Penney Girls have found ways to mend their own hearts and minds thanks to the support they have received. Now, they want to pay it forward to other children and communities. Because of this, Penney Girls Foundation is here to help chronically ill children and their families engage and experience life to its fullest.