HUMMINGBIRD FOUNDATION
a safe driving initiative in memory of elizabeth k. giordano
About
Our Story.
Elizabeth Giordano was a very popular, well-liked contributor to society. She was on a mission to help teens of all races and genders to boost their morale, and improve their self-esteem, image, and confidence.
Tragically, Elizabeth lost her life in a fatal car accident in 2009 caused by distracted driving. To honor her memory — and reduce the far-reaching effects of distracted driving on people everywhere — Elizabeth’s family created a foundation to raise awareness of distracted driving in an effort to make the roads safer. Fundraising proceeds enable the foundation to to award scholarships to area students, as well as scholarships for training courses to combat distracted driving.
Our Mission.
Our mission is to promote safe driving while encouraging our supporters to pledge never to drive distracted, to refrain from cellphone use behind the wheel, to never use alcohol or drugs if driving, and to always wear a seat belt. This pledge encompasses not only teens, but everyone on the road; we should all ensure our roads are safer by always driving responsibly.
The Hummingbird Foundation also works to honor Elizabeth’s memory by managing a scholarship fund resulting from the generosity of our amazing supporters. Annually, we award scholarships up to $1,000 each to high school seniors to help them pursue their dreams. In addition, we sponsor an annual student scholarship at Elizabeth’s alma mater, Curry College.
Lastly, in Elizabeth’s name we give scholarships toward distracted driving and crash prevention training through the In Control Family Foundation. Their primary program provides drivers of all ages with access to driver training that far surpasses classes taken to obtain a license.
To learn more about crash prevention visit:
Her Story
elizabeth giordano
Elizabeth throughout her lifetime made a remarkable impression on friends and acquaintances with her sparkling presence and wholeheartedness. Working as a waitress at the Colonel Blackington Inn and Café Assisi, Elizabeth made lots of friends. Graduating from King Philip Regional High School in 2003, she was crowned prom queen. Elizabeth was always dancing to music and having it play in the background to everything that she did, kind of like a soundtrack to her life. She loved adventure and travel, having studied abroad in Rome, and traveled through Europe in 2005.
Elizabeth wanted to help people and put others first, before herself, on a daily basis. She wanted to impact other people’s lives, so she pursued her undergraduate degree at Curry College in sociology and psychology, with a minor in women’s studies. Elizabeth graduated from Curry College in 2007 with passion and hope to assist young women who had self-esteem issues, especially wanting to help 9- to 16-year-old girls dealing with challenges such as drug use, anorexia, rape, and domestic abuse. While working at Enterprise in Brattleboro, Vermont, Elizabeth was awarded for her excellence in customer service. In her spare time she did social work, directly engaging with families in Vermont.
Elizabeth is no longer with us, but we honor her ambition, goals, and spirit of giving with this scholarship fund, and we ask for your support.
The Elizabeth K. Giordano Scholarship Fund uses “Hummingbird” as a brand name. Elizabeth’s family and friends have been comforted by the presence of hummingbirds after her passing. Her mother, Sheila Giordano, says, “It seems as though everywhere we look, we see a hummingbird flutter by. Each person in our family has seen one, and each day we hear stories of those who knew Elizabeth and have been captivated by one. We take it as a sign that her memory lives on eternally and believe it’s a symbol that Elizabeth is okay and always around us.”
