MORGAN’S STORY
No More Umbrellas Foundation is a nonprofit established in memory of Morgan Pierce to share her determined spirit through a legacy of giving to kids in need. Diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of five, Morgan spent half of her life in the world of childhood cancer. “I started No More Umbrellas to create a legacy for my daughter Morgan’s memory,” her mother, Emily Pierce, said. “When she was diagnosed in 2008. She was in kindergarten at Walden Lake Elementary. We were a young family, just shocked by the diagnosis, and the community surrounded us with support. So, we had people giving us money for travel to take her to the hospitals. We had friends and family filling our fridge. We had strangers mowing our yard for us. We came home in December from a long trip for a surgery to find a Christmas tree in our carport for us to decorate. We were able to support Morgan in the ways she needed because our community supported us.”
As Morgan fought her battle with cancer, she and her family saw the needs of other kids with life-threatening illnesses and began to help them. “When she passed away in 2020, I knew that I needed to continue the work just to be closer to her,” Emily said. “But also as a parent, you don’t want your child to be forgotten. Since we had done the work for so long, I wanted to create something that revolved around her spirit of giving. And so I created the foundation to create a legacy for her memory. Early on, I realized a connection between those who wanted to give, and those who had a need, and we could be that connector.”
“Morgan knew what she wanted and had to let us know what she needed,” Emily said. “She was a very sassy, strong-willed kid, which is why she lived as long as she did. She fought many relapses over the years. A big part of her survival was her strong-willed determination. She loved her friends and her family fiercely. She really wanted people to know that kids with cancer have so much more to them than just being kids with cancer. She was an advocate for kids to be kids.”
The name, “No More Umbrellas,” comes from a piece of artwork Morgan created when she was nine years old. She put together a popsicle-stick art piece, painted it with the colors of the rainbow, and wrote “No More Umbrellas” at the bottom. “It struck me that a nine-year-old, of all the things she could be creating, would pull that thought,” Emily said. “It really symbolized kids who are fighting cancer and life-threatening illnesses—that mindset, that frame of mind, really puts into words the feeling of those kids. If you spend time in a pediatric cancer center in the playroom, you will see that those kids just want to be with their friends, hang out with their parents, just have fun times….so they can just go be kids—so, no more rain, no clouds, only sunshine, only rainbows. No More Umbrellas fit perfectly the vibe of the kids who are in treatment. That is what we do. We try to make no more umbrellas—create happy days and sunshine where we can.”
No More Umbrellas gives financial support and resources to Central Florida kids who are fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and to their families. By giving kids with cancer the chance to create lasting memories, No More Umbrellas partners with providers, social workers, and supporters from West Central Florida’s three pediatric cancer hospitals. Through the foundation, families can focus on what matters most: making memories together.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
No More Umbrellas is a 501(c)3 organization with the perspective “Let’s Create Sunshine Together!”
“We are looking for gaps that we can fill,” Emily said. “We are different in that we give cash support of $500, gift cards, toys, games, and activities. People can donate on our website. They can send monthly donations—that would be very helpful. We fund 50 to 60 families a year with our cash hardship assistance.”
People can also mail to the foundation gas, grocery, restaurant, and other gift cards to help families travel for treatments and have less financial food pressure.
Another way to help is by volunteering at one of the non-profit’s fundraising events, or taking on a sponsorship role. Events like the Backbone Invitational Golf Tournament, Valentine’s Day Berries and Bubbles, and a clay shoot give businesses and individuals a chance to do something to help. The next upcoming event is the Christmas in July Toy Drive. It runs from mid-June through mid-August. Local businesses can pick up and set up donation boxes in their storefronts.
To give, volunteer, or learn more about No More Umbrellas Foundation:
www.nomoreunbrellas.org
Facebook: @nomoreumbrellas
PO Box 313
Durant, FL 33530
813.967.0481
