The Hannah Geneser Foundation

Everything pales in comparison to the loss of a child. Parents are simply not supposed to outlive their children. When a child dies, a part of the future dies along with them. Parents (and other family and friends) not only grieve the crushing loss of their child, but also the loss of potential, dreams and possibilities that will never be.

Why We Came to Be

On March 21, 2011, four-year-old Hannah Ray Geneser died in a tragic accident when a screen gave way and she fell through an open window. In response to her tragic and untimely death, the Hannah Geneser Foundation was founded by her parents, Jamie and Shanda.

The Hannah Geneser Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was launched in 2011 to honor the memory of Hannah and to help prevent the accidental death or serious injury of other young children. >> MORE

Our Mission Statement

The Hannah Geneser Foundation will promote the general cause of childhood safety - with special emphasis on window safety - through public awareness and educational opportunities.

Goals and Objectives

Promote public awareness and provide educational opportunities highlighting the hidden, yet prevalent, life-threatening circumstances that may lead to the unintended death or serious injury of a child
Sponsor public service announcements and provide educational materials on matters of child safety
Partner and collaborate with area companies and organizations to promote outreach activities and programs on child safety
Work with policymakers on the local, state and national levels to promote/adopt child safety legislation
Offer support to families coping with the loss of a child
Provide financial assistance to promote the well-being and education of children

News & Events

January 18, 2013 - The Journey for "Hannah's Law" Begins

Jamie, Shanda and other Hannah Geneser Foundation Board members meet with legislators at the Capitol today. We can think of nothing better to honor Hannah's memory than a law supporting window safety in the home for all Iowa children. Our message is powerful and we are determined. We are very fortunate to have so many people supporting us. We hope our state legislators will listen and support us, too.

>> Watch Channel 8-KCCI Video

2012 Hannah Geneser Foundation News

December 2, 2012 - Hannah Geneser Foundation Tree Awarded Third Place at Festival of Trees

The Hannah Geneser Foundation tree was awarded Third Place in the People's Choice Awards at Blank Children's Hospital's 2012 Festival of Trees. Thanks to everyone who attended the Festival this year in support of Des Moines' wonderful children's hospital. And thanks for voting for our tree. One Life..

April 3, 2012 - The State of Iowa House of Representative Unanimously Pass House Resolution 137

House Resolution 137 recognizes April 2012 as Window Safety Awareness Month for Iowa's children and families. Jamie and Shanda were on hand and received a standing ovation from the representatives. We are so grateful to Representative Janet Petersen and her co-writers for their interest in child window safety.

L to R: Jamie Geneser, Shanda Boone-Geneser and Rep. Janet Petersen

KDSM-Channel 17 Public Service Announcement for Window Safety Week - April 2012
Jamie and Shanda, in collaboration with SafeKids of Greater Des Moines, were interviewed for a public service announcement regarding Window Safety Awareness Week (April 1-7, 2012) by local Fox affiliate, KDSM.
>> Watch Video

KCCI-Channel 8 Interview About the Foundation - December 2011
Jamie and Shanda, Hannah's parents, were recently interviewd on the local CBS affiliate station, KCCI, about the Hannah Geneser Foundation and the work we are doing to spread child safety awareness - especially window safety. >> Watch Interview Video

Hannah Geneser Foundation is Platinum Donor
The Hannah Geneser Foundation is proud to be a platinum donor at the 2011 Blank Children's Hospital Festival of Trees and Lights. The festival has been held over theThanksgiving holiday weekend every year since 1984. This year, Hannah's foundation selected and underwrote a beautiful "Princess" tree (pictured right).

The Hannah Geneser Foundation and Blank Children's Hospital have a common goal to promote child safety awareness and education.

The Festival of Trees and Lights has three purposes:

To develop support and community appreciation of Blank Children's Hospital through a community - wide holiday event.
To promote community volunteerism in support of Blank Children's Hospital.
To provide revenue to support the Child Life and Advocacy & Outreach programs at Blank Children's Hospital.

A Parable of Immortality

By Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says,
" There she goes! "

Gone where?
Gone from my sight . . . that is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment
when someone at my side says,
" There she goes! " there are other eyes watching her coming...
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout . . . " Here she comes! "