LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A foundation created in honor of a Louisville firefighter who was killed in a crash with her daughter is partnering with another local organization to fund two new Safe Haven Baby Boxes at local fire departments.
The Lesley & Rhyan Prather Foundation was created in honor of Lesley and Rhyan Prather, who were killed when their car was hit head-on by a pickup truck outside St. Louis while they were on their way to a volleyball tournament in February 2020. Carrie McCaw and her daughter, Kacey, were also killed in the crash.
The foundation was created months after the crash in honor of Lesley, who was a Louisville firefighter, and Rhyan, to help women, children, and families in need and eventually create scholarships.
For release:
— Lesley & Rhyan Prather Foundation (@LRPFD) December 19, 2023
The Lesley & Rhyan Prather Foundation & Shirley's Way will partner in 2024 to sponsor two Safe Haven Baby Boxes in partnership with the Louisville Fire Department & PRP Fire Department! Additional information is attached! pic.twitter.com/xUBWvi5k4e
Tuesday, the foundation announced a new partnership with Shirley's Way. In 2024, the nonprofits will sponsor two Safe Haven Baby Boxes through partnerships with the Louisville and Pleasure Ridge Park fire departments.
The baby boxes allow mothers in need to anonymously and safely surrender an infant legally under the Safe Haven Law.
"As nonprofit organizations who both specialize in helping families facing tragedies, this presents a unique opportunity where we can take a proactive approach to prevent a tragedy and to allow a parent to surrender their newborn child anonymously and safely," the organizations said in a news release. "The Lesley & Rhyan Prather Foundation has previously sponsored a Baby Box with the LFD in honor of Lesley who was a firefighter for the Louisville Fire Department. Shirley's Way is excited to sponsor their first Safe Haven Baby Box."
Baby boxes are climate-controlled, with heating and cooling to make sure an infant will be comfortable. Once a baby is put in the box, the exterior door locks and three silent alarms will alert first responders. Within five minutes, the baby will be attended to and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
For more information about the Lesley & Rhyan Prather Foundation, click here.
For information about Shirley's Way, click here.
For information about Safe Haven Baby Boxes and locations, click here.
Related Stories:
- Pleasure Ridge Park High School to name court in memory of Lesley Prather
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- Family, friends honor crash victims' legacies with foundation, scholarship
- Baby supply donation to Louisville hospital honors mother, daughter killed in a car crash
- Louisville firefighter killed in February crash honored as '2020 Firefighter of the Year'
- Mourners line procession route to remember Lesley and Rhyan Prather
- Mourners pack St. Raphael the Archangel to remember Carrie and Kacey McCaw
- Louisvillians line streets to pay respects as 4 killed in St. Louis crash are returned home
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