Our Story
In Honor Of Edda Mae
The Edda Mae Foundation was founded by Gayla Jefferson-Beaty and named after the late Edda Mae Jefferson-McKinney, a dedicated foster mother who treated every child as her own. From 2001 until 2017, Edda Mae mothered over 500 children, ages 8 to 18. Her care provided a home and hope for children whose parents faced a variety of personal challenges. Thanks to Edda Mae’s loving care, her former foster children are now enjoying life as college graduates, corporate professionals and are successfully parenting their own children.
Gayla Jefferson-Beaty
Founder
“The Edda Mae foundation is the continuation of the legacy of hope provided by Edda Mae. The foundation provides financial and material support to children in foster care, youth who have aged out of foster care; as well as the families who serve them. We are a strong advocate for fostering opportunities which allow children in crisis to have a home that provides for all their fundamental needs in addition to the warmth needed to grow into the solid men and women they are meant to be.”