At Moments with Mila Foundation Inc., our mission is to support families navigating the unimaginable diagnosis of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare pediatric brain cancer and other pediatric brain cancers.
We believe that no family should have to face a devastating diagnosis alone or choose between being by their child’s side and meeting the overwhelming financial demands that come with specialized medical care.
Supporting Families When They Need It Most
We provide compassionate support to families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Our assistance may include financial assistance and memorable experiences that create moments of joy, connection, and love for children living with these serious illnesses.
Advocating for Compassionate Care
Our work goes beyond financial assistance. We are committed to advocating for better pediatric palliative care and compassionate, family-centered healthcare.
Every child deserves to be treated with dignity, comfort, and respect. Every family deserves to be heard, supported, and included in decisions about their child’s care.
We aim to help families access care that recognizes the whole child, not just a diagnosis because they are so much more than that.
A Legacy of Moments and Love…
Honoring Mila's Legacy
Everything we do is inspired by Mila and the love she brought into the lives of those around her.
Through every family we support, every moment we help create, and every voice we raise for compassionate pediatric care, Mila's legacy continues.
We are here to remind families that they are not alone.
We walk beside them and try to fill in the gaps. We support them. We honor their children. And we help create moments of love and hope when they matter most.
Board of Directors
Gracie Irizarry
Gracie Irizarry is the founder and president of the Moments with Mila Foundation, created in loving memory of her daughter, Mila Melida Muñiz.
Gracie’s journey into pediatric cancer advocacy began when Mila was diagnosed with DIPG, an aggressive and devastating pediatric brain tumor. Throughout Mila’s illness, Gracie became her fiercest advocate—navigating complex medical decisions, researching treatment options, seeking clinical trials, and working alongside medical teams while making sure Mila’s comfort, wishes, and quality of life remained at the center of every decision. The way Mila cared for others, found joy in the smallest moments, and remained unapologetically herself became the inspiration behind Moments with Mila.
After Mila passed away at the age of 13 on July 19, 2026, Gracie knew that Mila’s story could not end there. She founded Moments with Mila to transform a mother’s love for her daughter into meaningful support for other children and families facing pediatric brain cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
As President, Gracie guides the foundation’s mission, programs, family outreach, advocacy, and partnerships. She is especially passionate about supporting families during the moments that can feel the most overwhelming—helping them feel seen, cared for, informed, and less alone.
Through Moments with Mila, Gracie hopes to continue the kindness, generosity, courage, and love that defined Mila’s life while also raising awareness for pediatric brain cancer and the urgent need for better treatments and outcomes for children.
For Gracie, this foundation is more than an organization. It is a continuation of Mila’s love and a promise that her life, her story, and the moments she created will continue to make a difference.
Founder & President
Damian Muñiz is the proud father of Mila Melida Muñiz and a co-founder and board member of the Moments with Mila Foundation, created to honor Mila’s life and carry forward the love, strength, and generosity she brought to everyone around her.
Throughout Mila’s battle with DIPG, Damian stood steadfastly by his daughter’s side. He was her protector, her source of comfort, and one of her greatest advocates. Alongside Mila’s mother, Gracie, he navigated an unimaginable journey of treatments, hospital stays, difficult decisions, and uncertain days while remaining focused on what mattered most—making sure Mila always felt safe, supported, and deeply loved.
The experience of being a father to a child facing a life-threatening illness gave Damian a profound understanding of what families endure behind the walls of a hospital—the fear and uncertainty, but also the extraordinary love, hope, courage, and moments of joy that continue to exist even during the hardest days.
As a member of the Board of Directors, Damian helps guide the foundation’s mission and its commitment to supporting children and families affected by pediatric brain cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. He brings the perspective of a father and caregiver who has personally walked this road and understands how meaningful even the smallest gesture of compassion can be to a family facing the unimaginable.
Through Moments with Mila, Damian hopes to help other families create meaningful moments together, feel supported throughout their journeys, and know that they do not have to face their hardest days alone.
Above all, Damian’s work with the foundation is rooted in his love for his daughter. Moments with Mila is one of the ways he continues to be Mila’s dad—honoring who she was, sharing the love she gave so freely, and helping her legacy bring comfort and kindness to other children and families.
Co-Founder & Board MemberDamian Muñiz
Ann Halloran is a wife, mom of three boys, and a passionate advocate for children and families impacted by pediatric cancer.
Her connection to this mission is deeply personal. In 2020, Ann’s son, Finn, was diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor, beginning a journey that has included treatment, multiple brain surgeries, seizures, and years of navigating the uncertainty that comes with a childhood cancer diagnosis.
Serving on the Board of Directors of a nonprofit created in Mila's honor is deeply meaningful to Ann. It is an opportunity to stand beside a family she loves, help carry forward their daughter’s legacy, and turn heartbreak into hope and meaningful change.
Ann is passionate about raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer and supporting the families who face it. She serves in honor of Finn, in loving memory of her friends’ daughter, and with the hope of creating a brighter future for every child and family impacted by childhood cancer.
Board Member/SecretaryAnn Halloran
