Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria.
Hi Maria , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Fall of 2022, our daughter Aubrie (13) was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma cancer, CIC-DUX4. The beginning of 2023 she began her chemo journey. 11 cycles, 5 weeks of radiation and surgery to remove the tumor from her lower back. Aubrie fought so hard to be here. After almost two years of battling she passed away May 9, 2024. Three months before her 15 birthday. We were able to make her Make A Wish trip to Hawaii that February. Through my pain I started the Aubrie Peña Legacy Foundation. First thing on the agenda was to help fund research and clinical trials for sarcoma. Aubrie’s treatment wasn’t specific for her type. They treated her cancer like another sarcoma type, Ewing Sarcoma. Through the help of my family, friends and community leaders we brought Race to Cure Sarcoma to Austin. Our first year we had 325 participants and raised over $28,000, with only months to plan. This year new location same mission. We had over 400 participants and raise $45,000. We also teamed up with LULAC Council 4221 in there scholarship program. Three years we’ve worked alongside them giving out 45 scholarships in Aubrie’s name. We also spread sarcoma awareness any chance we get. July is sarcoma awareness month. This year I sent out hundreds of sarcoma yellow pins for folks to wear. My mission was to struck up conversations people wanted to know what the yellow stood for.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No. I had never put together a 501-c3 non profit organization. But through help of a family friend I was able to get everything done a few months after her passing. Every function or event the after part I struggle the most. It’s very bittersweet.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Aubrie Peña Legacy Foundation was created in memory of Aubrie Peña, a vibrant young girl whose life was tragically cut short at just 14 years old after her battle with a rare form of sarcoma, CIC-DUX4. Our mission is to make sure Aubrie’s life continues to have an impact by turning our grief into purpose and her legacy into action.
We focus on two important areas: sarcoma awareness and education, and creating opportunities for students through scholarships. We work to bring greater awareness to sarcoma, a rare and often misunderstood form of cancer, while advocating for the patients and families affected by it. Through our scholarship efforts, we invest in local students and help make their educational dreams a little more attainable.
What sets the Aubrie Peña Legacy Foundation apart is that everything we do is deeply personal. Aubrie was more than her diagnosis. She was a daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, student, musician, and someone who loved life. We strive to keep those parts of her story alive while using her name to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
We are especially proud of the relationships we have built within our local community. Through partnerships with organizations such as LULAC, we have been able to award scholarships to deserving students in Aubrie’s name. We are also proud of our sarcoma awareness initiatives and our commitment to supporting businesses, organizations, and individuals who give back to their communities. Our brand is rooted in love, legacy, community, and purpose. The butterfly in our branding represents transformation and the continued journey of Aubrie’s legacy. We want people to know that when they support the Aubrie Peña Legacy Foundation, they aren’t simply supporting a nonprofit they are helping carry forward the legacy of a daughter who should still be here.
Our goal is simple: to keep Aubrie’s name alive by making a difference in the lives of others. Through awareness, education, scholarships, community partnerships, and acts of kindness, we hope Aubrie’s legacy continues to reach far beyond the years she was given.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, we hope to see the sarcoma community grow significantly in awareness, support, and research. One of our biggest goals is to help make the Race to Cure Sarcoma Austin a major annual 5K that brings together thousands of people, raises substantial funds for sarcoma research, and gives families affected by sarcoma a place to feel seen and supported.
We also want to expand our scholarship program so we can award more scholarships to deserving students each year and continue investing in the future of our local community. Ultimately, our biggest hope is to see a future where sarcoma is better understood, more research is funded, treatments continue to improve, and one day, a cure is found. Everything we do is driven by the belief that Aubrie’s legacy can help create a future where other families don’t have to experience the loss we have experienced.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Aubriepenalegacyfoundation.org
- Instagram: Aubriepenalegacyfoundation
- Facebook: AubriePenaLegacyFoundation
