The Hayes Hitzeman Foundation was founded on June 15, 2002 by Kyra Oliver Hitzeman and her husband, Ezra Hitzeman, in honor of their 4½-month-old son, who died of SIDS on June 11, 2002. The Foundation works to award grants for SIDS research, support services and public awareness programs. For more information about the Hayes Hitzeman Foundation, call 804.708.0035.

Vision
The vision of the Hayes Hitzeman Foundation is to contribute to a future in which no one experiences the loss of a baby to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Mission
The mission of the Hayes Hitzeman Foundation is to select and support organizations that provide services toward the prevention of and education about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Action
We believe we can best fulfill our vision and accomplish our mission by the following actions:

• Identify worthy organizations and institutions that:
  1) provide research about the cause of SIDS and methods of its prevention
  2) provide clinical services which assist pediatricians in the medical
      management of infants who are at risk of SIDS
  3) provide education about the prevention of SIDS aimed at the public, the
      medical community, parents and caregivers
  4) provide family support for crisis phone counseling, grief literature
      and counseling referrals
  
• Make grant contributions to the above organizations to assist in furthering their goals, thus meeting the goals of the Hayes Hitzeman Foundation.
  
• Participate in and create Community Outreach Programs that educate the public about the causes and prevention of SIDS