
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
"It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving."
—Mother Teresa
PayPal


About Us
THE MIA TAYLOR FOUNDATION
The Mia Taylor Foundation evolved from the sudden tragic death of Mia at the age of 20. Mia made a difference during her time on earth, but she was far from being finished. There was so much more she wanted to accomplish. We will proudly continue the journey Mia started, forever remembering the lasting impact she made in the lives of those she touched and those who will now go forward to make a difference in Mia’s name through the strength of the foundation.
The Mia Taylor Foundation was created to build upon the legacy that Mia left behind by continuing her dedication, devotion and passion to the environment and nature conservation. Mia was also extremely passionate about helping to improve the lives of those in need. The mission of the foundation is for Mia's memory shine and see her legacy grow by combining her two passions - the environment and helping to improve the lives of others. Some of the primary ways the foundation plans to continue doing this, include the following:
-
The foundation believes that businesses and companies must support, protect, and not damage the environment. This belief is a good start, but it should not end there. We are committed to working with businesses and companies both locally and statewide to address the importance of environmental sustainability, as well as the needed measures necessary to implement an environmental compliant system within which a business or company operates.
-
Continue working with local colleges in bringing furthering education, as well as higher and advanced education (bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees) relating to environmental sustainability to the State of Nebraska. Thereby, providing Nebraska businesses and companies with access to qualified graduates, from Nebraska universities, who are not only qualified, but also have the passion and desire to create, implement, and maintain an environmentally compliant business or company. For businesses and companies looking at moving beyond merely complying with environmental, health and safety regulations, these graduates and prospective employees will be able to meet those needs and get ahead of the curve opposed to being left behind.
-
Continued dedication to funding scholarships; expanding experiential learning opportunities to those passionate about the environment; establishing outdoor educational areas to complement indoor classroom settings; bringing advanced environmental sustainability education (masters and doctorate programs) to the State of Nebraska, and much more.
-
Continue working with the College of Saint Mary (where Mia attended college), to further the advancement of environmental sustainability through scholarships and educational learning opportunities in an ongoing effort to improve and conserve the environment.
MISSION
The mission of the foundation is for Mia's memory shine and see her legacy grow by combining her two passions - the environment and helping to improve the lives of others.
ABOUT US
MIA ASHLEY TAYLOR
September 16, 2000 - November 18, 2020

EDUCATION
Mia was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She attended Oakdale Elementary School and completed junior high school at Christ the King School. Mia attended Skutt Catholic High School, but later transferred to Westside High School so she could join Westside’s medical club. Mia graduated from Westside in 2019. When considering which college to attend, Mia chose to remain in Nebraska where she elected to pursue her education in medicine. She enrolled at College of Saint Mary, a private university in Omaha, Nebraska, as a pre-med student. Mia’s passion for nature and the environment also attracted her to College of Saint Mary. She was intrigued by the environmental sustainability program they offered, which Mia chose as her minor.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
When Mia was 5, she and her father enjoyed brightening the holiday season (most holidays) for a local senior, in need, by delivering a heartfelt gift and/or meal to them. After the first holiday season, Mia was hooked and it became a yearly holiday tradition that Mia and her father shared together and included several seniors who were either living all alone, experiencing financial limitations, or both.
When Mia was 6, she and her father began an effort to provide books to disadvantaged or impoverished children who had few or no books in their homes. Mia was exposed to reading at an early age and had a strong passion for reading and a profound love for books. She and her father would spend hours reading and going to bookstores. After returning from visiting a classmate's home, Mia was sad to learn that her friend, from Mexico, did not have any books. She began gathering some of her books at home and asked her father if she could give them to her friend from school. This was the beginning of what started as another opportunity in which Mia wanted to give back to those in need. Mia and her father began purchasing cheap books or would gather donated books and distribute them to children in need across the local community.
When Mia was 14, and a student at Christ the King School, she was required to perform 25 hours of volunteer service. Her father recalled sitting down with Mia and reviewing volunteer opportunities. When they came to the Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI), Mia knew immediately this was the volunteer opportunity, which she wanted to serve. Not only did she perform her required 25 hours of volunteer service, but five years later, at the time of Mia’s passing, she was still an active volunteer at MMI.
While in college, Mia continued volunteering at MMI. She also volunteered at Methodist Hospital on Friday evenings. In addition, Mia volunteered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) where she assisted with cancer patients. This led to Mia’s initial employment position in the medical field, where she worked as a scribe in UNMC’s trauma unit.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Mia’s passion for a healthy lifestyle led to her attending seminars hosted by physicians and scholars from around the world. In 2019, after attending a plant-based convention in San Diego, Mia wrote an article about her healthy lifestyle and plant-based diet, which was subsequently published in a disease prevention and healthy living magazine. The original article is proudly displayed in Mia’s father’s office.
While attending College of Saint Mary, Mia was selected during her freshman year to travel to NASA to study efforts that NASA is taking to advance environmental sustainability. Upon her return, Dr. Ganesh Naik selected Mia to become president of CSM’s “Green Team.” This prestigious honor had only previously been held by students who were seniors.
ACTIVITIES/ADVENTURES
Mia always displayed passion and confidence in anything she wanted to achieve. She enjoyed playing soccer, swimming, and gymnastics. In December 2010, Mia suffered a severe neck injury stemming from a gymnastics accident. The long recovery, medication-related issues, and damage to her neck, ended Mia’s competitive sports career at an early age. It was during this time that Mia was treated and cared for by numerous healthcare professionals on her road to recovery. The exposure to these caring and exceptional physicians was instrumental in guiding Mia’s decision to a career in medicine.
Mia also had a passion for the environment, nature and traveling. Mia and her father took many trips to national parks, which was where she first developed her love for the environment and nature. Her goal was to visit every US state and every national park with her father before she turned age 30. Mia often spoke about the time she and her father traveled throughout Alaska by train, including a trip to Denali National Park and Preserve, where they went horseback riding and whitewater rafting.
In addition to traveling, Mia loved spending time with family, her pets (Morkie - Princess Coco and Yorkie - Cody).
Additionally, Mia loved to read and learn new things. She had several hobbies, which included: health and fitness, art and drawing, photography, scrapbooking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, and gardening. Mia always looked forward to helping her poppa Gene (Mia's grandfather) plant trees, flowers, and a large garden every year. She also loved to cook and bake, especially healthy or vegan foods and desserts from her collection of recipe books. She would often then deliver them to senior citizens in the neighborhood – and they loved to see her coming.

SHANE TAYLOR


Shane Taylor is Mia Taylor’s father. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Upon graduating from Westside High School, he attended the University of Nebraska and Florida State University. Mia was Shane’s only child. Aside from raising Mia, and his professional career (most of which was with the United States Department of Justice), Shane always found time to help others in need. This was something that he took great pride in sharing with Mia. Shane also enjoyed coaching soccer and baseball. Throughout the years he mentored with Nebraska legendary football coach Tom Osborne’s TeamMates Mentoring Program, as well as mentoring students in the District 66 school district, Omaha Public Schools and athletes at the University of Nebraska. Shane has also conducted extensive community outreach in the Omaha metropolitan area to prevent the financial exploitation of the elderly, as well as elder abuse.
In 2003, Shane was on the Board of Directors for Children's Rights Council (Nebraska/Iowa). Additionally, Shane co-founded a non-profit organization in Nebraska to assist children and parents going through divorce. Some of the primary goals and accomplishments that were achieved from the organization, were establishing equal rights for both mothers and fathers, counseling for children and parents, legal consultations and assistance, as well as various other types of support for children and parents embroiled in divorce and custody cases.
In 2005, when Mia was 5, Shane and Mia enjoyed brightening the holiday season (most holidays) for a local senior, in need, by delivering a heartfelt gift and/or meal to them. After the first holiday season, Mia was hooked and it became a yearly holiday tradition that Shane and Mia shared together and included several seniors who were either living all alone, experiencing financial limitations, or both.
In 2006, when Mia was 6, Shane and Mia began an effort to provide books to disadvantaged or impoverished children who had few or no books in their homes. Mia was exposed to reading at an early age and had a strong passion for reading and a profound love for books. She and her father would spend hours reading and going to bookstores. After returning from visiting a classmate's home, Mia was sad to learn that her friend, from Mexico, did not have any books. She began gathering some of her books at home and asked Shane if she could give them to her friend from school. This was the beginning of what started as another opportunity in which Mia wanted to give back to those in need. Shane and Mia began purchasing cheap books or would gather donated books and distribute them to children in need across the local community.