Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 1:4
“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.”
about us
ames for grace foundation
Ames for Grace Foundation is a Christ-centered nonprofit based in South Africa. Our heart is to support parents who need to travel for their children’s life-altering surgeries, practically, emotionally, and prayerfully.
This foundation was born from two mothers’ deeply personal journeys through medical crisis, heartbreak, and miraculous provision.
One of us held her newborn son through emergency heart surgery just 10 days after birth. The other sat beside her daughter for weeks in the NICU and later the PICU, loving her through every moment of the time she was given.
These were seasons no parent ever imagines, marked by fear, grief, and overwhelming need. But in the midst of it all, the Lord was our anchor.
He met us in hospital corridors through quiet peace, through the kindness of strangers, and the unrelenting prayers of loved ones.
As we walked through these valleys, we also became deeply aware that not every family has that kind of support. Many parents are forced to walk these same roads alone, struggling not only with medical decisions but also with the burden of travel, meals, accommodation, and emotional isolation.
Ames for Grace Foundation was birthed from that reality, and from the desire that no parent would ever have to walk this road alone again.
our vision
To create a foundation that helps bear those burdens for others, practically and prayerfully.
our children, our inspiration
Ames for Grace Foundation exists to provide support for parents who needs to travel for their child’s medical care, covering travel, accommodation, or meals, so that no parent has to choose between being present and being financially stable.
Our name honors our children: Theodore Ames and Milah Grace.
Two stories of strength and grace, both shaped by the hands of a faithful God. Now we carry that same grace forward.
We're not medical professionals or corporate fundraisers. We’re just two moms, walking in obedience to God’s call to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), and building something that will bring peace to others in their most vulnerable moments.
co-founder
courtney bronkhorst
Hi, I’m Courtney, a wife, mom of two, photographer, and co-founder of the Ames for Grace Foundation.
In August 2024, our son Theodore Ames was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), a life-threatening heart condition where the arteries are reversed, preventing oxygen from reaching the body. At just 10 days old, he needed open-heart surgery.
I was only three days postpartum, still recovering from a C-section, when Teddy and I were flown by medical plane from George to Cape Town. I was in pain and overwhelmed. My husband packed up what we needed and drove through alone, leaving our daughter behind with family.
I held my baby the day he was born… and not again until he was one month old.
His surgery lasted 10 hours. He spent three weeks on a ventilator, and we stayed near the hospital for five weeks. I slept beside him on a pull-out chair, clinging to God for grace just to get through the day.
But through it all, we were carried.
Friends covered petrol. Family brought meals. People prayed. We had a place to stay. We were so supported, and I’ll never forget it.
But I kept thinking:
What if we didn’t have this kind of help?
What happens to the parents who can’t afford to be there?
That question never left me.
It became the beginning of Ames for Grace Foundation.
We started this to support families like ours, parents who must travel far from home for their child’s medical care. Through Ames for Grace, we help with travel, accommodation, and meals, so they don’t have to choose between financial stability and being present for their child.
I know what it’s like to leave your toddler behind, to miss your baby’s first cuddles, to live beside a hospital bed in deep uncertainty.
But I also know what it’s like to be held, by community, by grace, and by the Lord.
And that’s what we want to offer others now.
a legacy of love
comforted to comfort
Two moms.
Two children, Theodore Ames and Milah Grace.
Two stories shaped by heartbreak, hope, and the faithfulness of God.
Now, through this foundation, we carry their names forward as a promise:
To be there for other parents walking this road. To help carry the weight.
To bear one another’s burdens in Christ’s love.
integrity, compassion & accountability
how families are chosen for funding
To ensure fairness and transparency, the selection process for families in need is not made by us as directors, as we acknowledge our personal emotional involvement.
All applications are reviewed by a dedicated board of members, which includes medical professionals and advisors. Together, they prayerfully and carefully assess each case and make funding decisions as a collective, based on need, medical insight, and available resources.
This approach helps us honour each family's story with integrity, compassion, and accountability.
co-founder
carmi calitz
Hi, I’m Carmi Calitz, a follower of Jesus, a wife, a mom to three precious babies in heaven, Social Media Manager and co-founder of the Ames for Grace foundation.
When our baby girl, Milah Grace, was just five months old, we found ourselves walking a road no parent ever expects.
After spending two months in the NICU, we finally had her home, but those three short months were filled with multiple hospital readmissions, feeding challenges, and deep uncertainty. Due to her syndrome diagnosis, severe reflux, and a soft cleft palate, Milah was permanently tube-fed. Every day revolved around feeding, managing her growth, and trying to keep her comfortable through constant reflux that severely impacted her.
At just five months old, she needed a surgery that, for us, was life-altering. We had to travel to Cape Town and were told we’d need to stay for several weeks for follow-ups. While medical aid covered the surgery, we were completely unprepared for the financial strain and emotional weight of the trip, the cost of accommodation, meals, transport, and the unknowns ahead. We are so thankful for a community that surrounded us, made up of close people and people we have never even met, who stepped in the gap to cover those financial expenses.
That season was one of the hardest of our lives. And just days after her surgery, after unexpected complications, Milah Grace went to her forever home with the Lord. In the months that followed, I knew deep in my spirit that her life wasn’t meant to end in silence or sorrow. I felt the Lord press something into my heart, that her story had purpose. What we had walked through could one day serve someone else. At the time, I didn’t know what that dream would look like. I knew it would be something rooted in support, possibly for NICU or medically fragile children and their families, but I was still unsure.
A few months later, Courtney, a dear friend who had walked a similar road with her son’s surgery, reached out with a proposal. With tears in my eyes, I read what she wrote and immediately said, “You won’t believe this, but it’s exactly what God has been stirring in my heart.” We knew then that this wasn’t just a coincidence; it was confirmation.
Our little ones had been treated at the same hospital, just months apart. Although our stories are different, the weight we carried as mothers connected us in a way that words never could.
And that’s where this journey began, with Milah’s story, and the quiet, unwavering belief that her life would leave a legacy far beyond her short time on earth. We want families to know they’re not alone. We want our children’s lives to live on through service, support, and hope, to bring light into dark places, and to remind others that even in the most overwhelming seasons, they are not alone and there is always grace.
our role
how we help
When a child needs critical medical care far from home, the emotional toll is overwhelming, and the financial strain can be crushing. While some medical costs may be covered, the travel, accommodation, and daily meals for the parents often aren’t. That gap can make it impossible for families to be present with their child.
Ames for Grace Foundation exists to close that gap.
*Please Note
Ames for Grace is still in its early stages. While we’re not yet able to offer financial support, we’re here to provide emotional support if you’re currently walking through this season with your child.
You are not alone, and we invite you to please feel free to reach out to us.
We assist families by covering one or more of the following:
travel
Petrol, flights, public transport
accommodation
Guesthouses, B&Bs, or hospital-adjacent stays
meals
Daily food and basic grocery costs during their stay
Parents can apply for one, two, or all three forms of support depending on their situation. Our goal is to meet them where the need is most urgent.
We will be working with hospitals, medical professionals, and churches to verify and respond quickly to cases, bringing relief when it’s needed most.
your role
how you can help
There are many ways to be part of what God is doing through Ames for Grace Foundation. Whether you give time, prayer, resources, or finances, every offering is a seed planted in love and it helps a parent get one step closer to their child.
Here’s how you can get involved:
pray
Join us in prayer for the families we’ll support, for wisdom as we grow, and that God would open the right doors in His time. We believe everything we do must be rooted in prayer and led by the Holy Spirit.
give
Your donation, whether once-off or recurring, helps us cover the costs of travel, accommodation, and meals for families in need. As soon as we are registered as a PBO, tax certificates (Section 18A) will be available for all eligible donors.
sponsor a need
Want to make your giving more personal? Sponsor a night of accommodation, cover a tank of petrol, or provide a week of groceries. We’ll share updates and feedback from the families you’ve helped.
host a fundraiser
Whether it’s a bake sale, a creative challenge, a church collection, or a market stall, your event can raise both funds and awareness. Let us know your idea, and we’ll help with the tools and promo materials you need.
partner your church or business
We’re looking for churches, guesthouses, cafés, B&Bs, and businesses that can support families through donations, discounts, or services.
This could look like:
- Offering discounted or free accommodation
- Donating meals or groceries
- Contributing funds
- Becoming a recurring supporter
Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to parents who need to feel seen, supported, and surrounded.
join our “hosts & helpers” list
Would you like to help in a hands-on, heart-on way? We’re building a list of compassionate volunteers who can step in when needs arise.
You can choose to serve in ways like:
- Driving a parent to or from the hospital
- Making and delivering a warm meal
- Hosting a family in your guest room or flatlet
- Running errands or offering childcare support for siblings
- Offering prayer or a listening ear
If you feel called to serve in this way, we’d love to add you to our Hosts & Helpers List. You’ll be contacted only when a need arises in your area, and you can opt in each time.
contact us
have any questions?
We’d love to connect with you, whether you’re looking for support, want to get involved, or feel led to give. Reach out to us with any questions or stay updated by following our social media.