Launched in August 2025 by Helping Hands of Celina, Milestones Matter: The Jennifer Cawlfield Legacy Fund honors the life and legacy of co-founder Jennifer Cawlfield and her unwavering belief that no student should miss out on life’s meaningful moments due to financial hardship. This initiative helps ensure that students throughout the Celina community can fully participate in the milestones that shape their school experience.
Through Milestones Matter, Helping Hands of Celina provides assistance for prom tickets, yearbooks, graduation caps and gowns, fifth-grade camp experiences, and support for pre-K breakfast and lunch accounts. Donations remove financial barriers so that every student has the opportunity to belong, celebrate, and succeed.
As a former teacher, Jennifer had a deep love for educators and made it a priority to support Celina ISD teachers through the Adopt-a-Teacher program, which provides a $50 gift card to teachers each August. These funds were raised through the beloved Teacher Fashion Show Fundraiser, where local Celina businesses showcased their fashions and teachers took to the catwalk. As Celina ISD has grown, so has the number of teachers and the need for support. In 2025 alone, Helping Hands of Celina purchased more than $30,000 in gift cards for the Adopt-a-Teacher program.
To continue honoring Jennifer’s heart for teachers and students in a sustainable way, Helping Hands of Celina met with Celina ISD administrators, teachers, and Jennifer’s husband, Eddie. Together, they chose to establish Milestones Matter: The Jennifer Cawlfield Legacy Fund—a lasting tribute that reflects Jennifer’s passion and values.
The fund supports activities that are meaningful in a student’s life but can place a financial strain on families. Fifth Grade Camp, held each November, costs approximately $310 per student. Yearbooks range from $30 to $60, and a senior graduation cap and gown costs about $90. Helping Hands of Celina also hosts a prom dress shopping event for area high school girls, and Milestones Matter can now assist with the cost of prom tickets as well.
The need does not stop there. Requests for assistance continue to grow and now include middle school dance tickets and college application fees. Helping Hands of Celina aims to raise $15,000 in 2026 to meet milestone needs, increasing to $25,000 in 2027. As Celina ISD adds campuses and the student population expands, ongoing donations are essential to continue Jennifer’s love for teachers, students, and the mission of Helping Hands of Celina.
Jennifer Cawlfield’s heart for the Celina community lives on through Milestones Matter: The Jennifer Cawlfield Legacy Fund. The custom Milestones Matter logo reflects her life and devotion to others. The butterfly resting on a heart symbolizes Jennifer’s everlasting presence within Helping Hands of Celina, while the teal color honors her courageous battle with ovarian cancer.
To help sustain Jennifer’s legacy and ensure that milestones truly matter for every student, donations can be made at:
helpinghandsofcelina.com/product/donation/