About the Foundation

The Eddie Mayerik Foundation is a non-profit organization that honors the life of Eddie Mayerik, forever 8, who bravely battled a congenital heart defect (CHD) and chronic lung disease. He was a superhero with a heart of gold, always ready to flash his two thumbs up with a huge smile.

Established in 2024 by Eddie’s family, the Eddie Mayerik Foundation envisions a world where every kiddo can thrive and families remain whole. The Foundation works to ensure Eddie’s light continues to shine bright by advancing CHD awareness and research, supporting the needs of heart families, and promoting Eddie’s passions. Through this work, we keep his memory alive and continue to spread his kindness in the world.

The inaugural Go Red for Ed event will be the foundation's signature fundraising event, bringing families together to raise awareness about CHDs and raise funds for heart warrior families.

About Eddie

Eddie was a life-long resident of Wheaton/Winfield and a student at Carl Sandburg Elementary School. In his short life, he endured seven open-heart surgeries and spent approximately 464 days at Advocate Children’s Hospital, and at Stanford Children’s Hospital.

Despite the battles he faced, Eddie radiated kindness and joy to everyone he met. He was a caring older brother. He was constantly making the doctors and nurses laugh with his jokes. He loved school, magic, his doctors, nurses, and staff, and the Buffalo Bills.

Learn more about our work at EddieStrong.org.

Go Red for Ed 2026

A family-friendly community event on Sunday, October 4 in loving memory of Eddie Mayerik