Chloe Gervais has a way of drawing people in.
Sometimes it is her smile. Sometimes it is the joy she carries into a room. Sometimes it is simply the way she connects with people, openly and without judgment.
That is where Chloe’s Spark began.
When Chloe was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome in August 2023 at 3 years old, her parents were introduced to something they had never heard of and a future they had not expected. As they began navigating an unfamiliar diagnosis, they also found a community working toward a better future for people living with Angelman syndrome.
This past June, the Gervais family brought friends, family, neighbors, and supporters together in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, for the first Chloe’s Spark Golf Scramble.
By the end of the day, the event had raised over $55,000.
The family had not set a fundraising goal. Their focus was on creating an event that felt like Chloe.
A Day Built Around What Chloe Loves
A golf scramble made sense for a family that plays together, Chloe included. The day was shaped around the things that make Chloe who she is. Golfers were welcomed with music, bubbles, and balloons, and Chloe helped hand out her grandmother's homemade chocolate chip cookies throughout the afternoon.
The day was fun and welcoming, but its meaning ran much deeper.
One golfer signed up after seeing a photo of Chloe’s smile, before she knew much about Chloe’s story or Angelman syndrome.
“Chloe draws you in,” Laura, Chloe’s mom, said.
The moment the Gervais family remembers most came just before the golfers teed off. Everyone gathered together, and for a few minutes, the family could see people from many different parts of their lives standing in the same place, all there for Chloe.
“It was incredible to see all the people come together from all different parts of our lives supporting us and Chloe,” she said. “I will never forget it.”
A Community Shows Up
Some had traveled many miles to attend. Several fellow Angelman syndrome mothers came with their families, not to golf, but to help with the event and surround the Gervais family with support.
“That meant everything,” she said. “We understand the sacrifice that brings.”
What happened that day went far beyond the final fundraising total. By sharing Chloe’s story, the family gave their community a way to stand beside them and become part of the future they are working to create.
Laura and Trevor hope Chloe’s Spark will continue to reflect the way Chloe moves through the world and the impact she has on the people around her.
“Our dream is that Chloe’s life will shine brightly for everyone she meets, whether they live with a disability or not,” her mother said. “Her spark reminds us that every person has something extraordinary to offer the world.”
Laura’s advice to other families considering a fundraiser is simple: trust that people will show up when given the opportunity.
“I was blown away by the support just because we got to share Chloe’s story,” she said.
She also encourages families to begin with whatever feels meaningful to them.
“I invite each of you to take the spark of hope and resilience and make your own flame for good,” she said. “What does that look like for you? Whatever it is, let that flame grow in your homes, your neighborhoods, and your hearts.”
FAST is deeply grateful to the Gervais family and every volunteer, sponsor, golfer, and donor who helped make the first Chloe’s Spark Golf Scramble possible.
Start with a Spark
Your fundraiser does not have to begin with a perfect plan. It can start with one idea, one conversation, or one thing your family already loves to do. Contact Krista Nanigian to help you take that first step and turn it into something meaningful for your community.