With those funds, she founded The Clara Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to children with Down syndrome, offering therapy, art programs, and family support.
Then she built The Willow Sanctuary, an animal refuge on a piece of land outside town, where neglected animals could heal.
Clara grew up surrounded by animals and laughter. By ten, she was confident and creative, painting murals on the barn walls and singing to the horses.
One evening, at a school assembly, Clara stood on stage and said with a wide, proud smile: “My grandma says I can do anything — and I believe her.”
The audience rose in applause. Margaret cried silently in the back row, her heart full.