When families are faced with the unimaginable - caring for a critically ill child while struggling to keep the lights on and food on the table - Miracles for Kids steps in to offer hope, stability, and relief. At the heart of this transformative nonprofit is Autumn Strier, a visionary leader who turned compassion into action and built one of California’s most impactful safety nets for families in crisis. As co-founder and CEO, Strier has spent over two decades growing Miracles for Kids from a passionate idea into a multimillion-dollar lifeline that’s touched thousands of lives. Her mission is simple but powerful: to ensure no family fights alone when facing their darkest days.
"Being able to help so many people during such a difficult time in their lives has been extremely meaningful for us," explains Autumn Strier, co-founder of Miracles for Kids. "We have set out to make a difference and thanks to our supporters, 21 years later, we’ve exceeded even our own expectations.”
Strier’s journey into nonprofit leadership wasn’t by accident. Deeply impacted as a child when receiving support in her times of need, the value of a life of service was ingrained in her. She holds a master’s degree in public administration in nonprofit management from New York University and began her career committed to large-scale change. Her academic training, combined with a relentless drive to serve, helped shape Miracles for Kids into a leading force for good—one that has provided tangible aid to thousands of families grappling with the financial and emotional toll of pediatric illness.
Started in 2004, Miracles for Kids has grown exponentially. Their mission is to help the families of those who have children with a life-threatening illness or condition. During such a time, many families struggle to pay their bills, because the family finances are impacted severely. The organization steps in and helps with paying the rent, groceries, utilities, transportation, medical bills, and more. They go beyond meeting the families’ basic needs by helping with funds for wellness, education and employment. They provide everything from back-to-school supplies to holiday meals, and everything in between, including over 3,253 wellness sessions to address grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression. Strier’s fundraising efforts have brought in over $60 million to date, supporting families throughout Southern California and extending into Northern California as far as Sonoma, and east to Dallas.
Now entering its 21st year, Miracles for Kids has remained a lifeline for families with critically ill children: delivering essential resources, stability, and hope when they need it most. Some of their key accomplishments include:
Having raised over $60,000,000 since their founding, and have housed over 237 people.Supporting families with children suffering from over 120 different illnesses and conditions.In 2024, Miracles for Kids helped stabilize almost 2,000 family members and 429 families.They have acquired two apartment complexes, providing up to 22 families at any given time long-term housing.In 2024 they provided 41,485 nights of sleep in a safe, comfortable environment, and provided 889 individuals wellness therapy at no cost.They have delivered over 23,000 packages of basic necessities to families.They have paid almost 24,000 bills to keep the lights on, put food on the table, ensure a roof overhead, and provide transportation to treatments.
“I’m honored to have been part of this journey for more than 20 years and that it has touched so many lives,” Strier adds. “However, we're not done yet. The need is great, and there’s so much more we can do.”
Strier’s influence extends well beyond the walls of her organization. A respected community leader, she has served on numerous boards and continues to champion causes that improve lives. She was honored repeatedly as one of the Orange County Business Journal’s “Women in Business” from 2010 to 2024, and was named to OC Metro magazine’s “Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40” in 2009. Her work has earned national attention for driving meaningful, measurable change.
Based in Orange County, California, the organization serves families throughout California and beyond, helping to relieve the financial worry and burden that families experience during crisis by providing financial support, shelter, counseling, and necessities. Miracles for Kids relies on volunteers, financial donors, corporate partnerships, community programs, and more to serve these families in need. To learn more about what they do and how to get involved, visit the site at: https://miraclesforkids.org/
