By Rebecca Barnes, Publisher, Prince William Living
For 12 years, the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation has stepped in when families of children with complex medical needs, special needs, serious illnesses, or medical crises discover that the help they need does not always fit neatly into an existing program.
Sometimes the need is groceries or help with a house payment. Sometimes it is adaptive equipment, technology, aquatic therapy, or changes to a home. Sometimes a child simply needs an opportunity to feel celebrated.
Nearly 500 families have now become part of the Bristow-based nonprofit’s Raindancer family, according to founder Sara Knight. Thousands more have received support during hospital stays through the organization’s hospital outreach program.
SJGF recently marked its 12th anniversary with a celebration that looked back at that growth while focusing on the families who will need the organization next.
Filling the Gaps for Local Families
Knight said one of SJGF’s most important roles is helping families with needs that other resources cannot or do not cover. That support can include assistance through its Rainy Day Fund, groceries, housing expenses, technology, adaptive equipment, and specialized mobility equipment.
One of the organization’s newer programs is aquatic therapy. Launched in 2024, the program has grown by approximately 200%, according to Knight. The foundation provides specialized aquatic therapy to children who might otherwise be unable to access it because of the cost or lack of insurance coverage.
The organization’s role in the community has changed as its programs have grown.
Knight said medical professionals, therapists, social workers, and others now turn to SJGF when trying to identify resources for families whose needs do not fit traditional assistance programs. “Today, we are increasingly becoming a go-to resource throughout Prince William County and the greater Northern Virginia region for children with complex healthcare, medical, and special needs,” Knight said.
Help During a Manassas Family’s Medical Crisis
One recent case shows how varied that assistance can be. Knight described a Manassas family whose child was involved in a serious accident earlier this year and has been hospitalized since January.
A member of the child’s medical team recommended that the family contact SJGF.
After learning about the family’s circumstances, the foundation helped with a house payment and grocery gift cards. It also helped provide school clothes for the family’s older children. SJGF plans to continue supporting the family as the child transitions home, Knight said. Future needs could include therapies, medical equipment, and home adaptations.
“We don’t just step in for one need and walk away,” Knight said. “We stand with families as they navigate what comes next.”
Support Extends Beyond Prince William
SJGF’s hospital outreach program expands that work beyond the approximately 500 families enrolled in its Raindancer community.
The foundation currently partners with seven hospitals across Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., region. Through those partnerships, it has distributed thousands of care packages, Sunshine Boxes, blankets, and other items to children and families experiencing hospital stays.
The support SJGF provides is not exclusively financial or material. Families dealing with serious medical conditions can become isolated, Knight said. The foundation’s family events bring Raindancer families together with other people who understand some of the challenges they face.
That sense of community has become an important part of the organization’s mission.
Celebrating 12 Years in Gainesville
The foundation’s anniversary celebration followed the 10th Annual Raindancer Classic at Prince William Golf Course. The golf tournament sold out before registration opened to the public, with 38 foursomes participating.
Approximately 250 golfers and other guests later gathered for Celebration on the Lake at Sunshine Ridge Manor at The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm in Gainesville. Sunshine Ridge Manor donated use of its new lakefront wedding and event venue for the celebration. The evening included dinner, live music, a silent auction, and a look at both the foundation’s first 12 years and its plans for the future.
Premier sponsors included Sunshine Ridge Manor and Billy and Maria Rafferty, Ken and Sharree Ryder, Simply Divine Design & Decor, and Jay Tobias of Thrivent. Beverage sponsors included High Noon, CJ Builders, Pavluchuk Associates, and Caliber Design. Rock+Stone sponsored the golf tournament’s Human Slot Machine. Knight said approximately 20 additional golf sponsors participated, along with businesses and individuals who contributed to the silent auction.
Preparing for the Next Family
The foundation’s growth has also increased its need for sustainable community support. Knight said SJGF is interested in connecting with Northern Virginia corporations seeking local nonprofit partners for corporate social responsibility initiatives. The foundation offers sponsorship and hands-on opportunities.
It also relies on volunteers, business partnerships, donated professional services, in-kind contributions, and community connections. Sometimes the most useful resource is not money. A family may need a particular service or connection, and someone in the community may know exactly who can help.
“We want to be ready for the child who comes to us next week,” Knight said. “The family who reaches out next month. The child who needs us next year.”
Christmas Is Next
The next major opportunity for the community to help comes during the holidays. SJGF expects more than 80 families to participate in its December Christmas party. The foundation’s virtual Angel Tree allows community members to select gifts so each child in participating families can receive something special from Santa.
Gift signups are expected to open in early November. Readers can sign up for updates and learn more about the Christmas program at the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation Christmas page.
Prince William Living readers can also learn more about SJGF’s local impact in our 2025 Giving Back Awards coverage, where Sweet Julia Grace Foundation was recognized as a runner-up.
Rebecca Barnes is the publisher of Prince William Living and has spent decades working with businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout Greater Prince William. Through Prince William Living, she focuses on sharing the people, organizations, and initiatives that affect quality of life in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
