Jane’s Fund Celebrates $1 Million Community Impact and Lauren Harnett, Executive Director

Jane’s Fund, a public non-profit created to bring love and light to families experiencing hardship by providing encouragement and financial support, has poured more than $1 million into the Charlotte community, impacting more than 3,000 individuals, since its inception less than a year ago. 

Jane and Mike Harrell, along with their children Piper, Max and Sam, launched Jane’s Fund to honor their daughter and sister, Jane, who passed away in 2019 at age 17, just five months after being diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) a rare, inoperable pediatric brain tumor with a zero-survival rate. Jane left her friends and family with a charge to change the world, saying, “that job belongs to each of you.” 

Seeking to put action to Jane’s words, the Harrells have created a program that gives directly to families, schools and other nonprofits to improve the educational, medical and physical well-being of children. To date, Jane’s Fund has paid off seven mortgages for families caring for a child dying of cancer and supported rent, car payments, home or safety repairs for six more. The organization has donated more than 800 computers to graduated high school seniors, purchased two 15-passenger vans for local after school programs, renovated two playgrounds for under-resourced schools and much more, chronicled on their website.

As Jane’s Fund and its impact continue to make a difference, the fund has named a founding Executive Director to guide its growth and evolution. Charlotte native Lauren Harnett comes to Jane’s Fund from Trinity Episcopal School, where she served for more than five years as Director of Advancement. 

In addition to raising two daughters, Julia (6) and Margaret (3), with her husband Max, Lauren has successfully led fundraising efforts for a wide variety of organizations in the Carolinas, including Victory Junction, The Dale Jr. Foundation, Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina, and First Presbyterian Church.

Lauren feels deeply connected to the mission of Jane’s Fund and a true calling to the trust-based approach of fostering genuine relationships with recipients of funding. “Every family’s story matters to Jane's Fund,” she said. “The Harrell’s unique philosophy and personal impact inspires and energizes me. I am profoundly honored to be trusted with this mission and grateful for the opportunity to partner with this incredible family and organization. The potential for this important and life-giving work is limitless. I can’t wait to watch the Charlotte community come together around Jane’s legacy.”

To learn more about Jane’s Fund’s efforts to change the world for local families, schools, sports, camps and more, and to learn how you can help, visit www.shinelikejane.org