About Us
Our Vision
We envision a rural Oklahoma where no family walks through grief or hardship alone. The Shia Rain Foundation works to build a future where children and families have the tools, support, and opportunities to heal, grow, and thrive—regardless of the challenges they face. By combining compassionate care with workforce development, we strive to transform cycles of adversity into pathways of renewal and strength.
How the Shia Rain Foundation Was Born
The Shia Rain Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was born out of both heartbreak and hope. It began with one grandmother’s unimaginable loss and her courageous decision to transform that pain into purpose. When her beloved granddaughter, Denver Shia Rain, passed away due to a heart condition, the ripple effects were devastating. Grief swept through the family and opened the door to addiction, heartache, and deep emotional wounds that would take years to heal.
But even in the darkest moments, a promise was made: no family facing a medical crisis, loss, or hardship should ever feel alone, abandoned, or without hope.
That promise became a mission.
What started as a small, grassroots effort soon blossomed into a movement of love and support for families of children with heart conditions especially those who must travel long distances for care, sleep in hospital rooms, and carry the heavy financial burdens of life-saving treatment. What began as one grieving Nana’s dream is now a living legacy of healing, compassion, and transformation.
But the journey didn’t end there.
Krisstee Pierce, Denver’s grandmother and the foundation’s founder, was driven by more than just grief she was shaped by her own walk through brokenness. Her personal journey of recovery from addiction and spiritual emptiness became the heartbeat of the foundation and gave it deeper purpose: to walk alongside others through their darkest seasons and remind them that healing is possible.
In Krisstee’s words:
“Losing my precious grandbaby shattered my world. But the pain didn’t stop there. That same tragedy sent shockwaves through my family. My daughters, overwhelmed by grief, began spiraling in and out of addiction, rehab, and institutions. I too was lost battling my own escape through unhealthy coping and spiritual exhaustion.
Year after year, I watched my daughters struggle to reclaim their lives. One is now present again for her two children, rising slowly but surely. The other is in treatment, working hard to rebuild her future after losing custody of her children. And me I’ve walked the path of recovery with them, holding tightly to faith, to hope, and to the belief that our story wasn’t over.
God whispered to my heart that even the deepest pain can give birth to purpose. He showed me that beauty can rise from broken places. The Shia Rain Foundation was created in honor of my grandbaby, whose name lives on through every act of love we offer. We are here for the hurting, the addicted, the grieving, and the weary. We are a light in the darkness.”
Today, the Shia Rain Foundation serves not only families with medically fragile children but also individuals battling addiction, mental health challenges, grief, and domestic violence. Through its growing programs Butterfly Rain New Beginnings and RISE (Resilience, Inspiration, Support, Empowerment) the foundation offers practical resources, emotional support, and spiritual encouragement.
Each initiative reflects a piece of Krisstee’s story and a greater truth: no matter how far someone has fallen, there is always a path forward. Through God, faith, and community, healing is possible.
Restoring hope.
One child. One person. One family. One heart at a time.
