Meet Ella: Gold Star Family Champion

At just 17 years old, Ella Kane is already making a meaningful impact on the Gold Star community. A Maryland native preparing to enter her senior year of high school, Ella balances a busy life filled with baking, biking, reading, volleyball, track and field, and spending time with friends. Behind her many interests, however, is a deep commitment to supporting military families who have experienced loss.

Ella's connection to Tuesday's Promise began through opportunities she and her older brother received as Gold Star Family members. Through the organization, they toured the U.S. Capitol, met with their state senator, and participated in career exploration events that introduced them to a variety of professions and pathways for the future.

After losing her father in late 2020, Ella and her family experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating the many resources available to surviving military families. While valuable programs and organizations exist, finding them often takes time and relies heavily on word-of-mouth connections. That experience inspired Ella to create Gold Star Hub, a centralized online resource designed to make support easier to find. Her goal was simple but powerful: ensure that families do not have to spend months or years discovering opportunities, services, and programs that could help them during their grief journey.

As a Gold Star Family member, Ella recognized that her family's experience was far from unique. Through conversations with other military-connected children and families, she learned that many people faced similar difficulties locating resources. Those connections helped shape Gold Star Hub into a growing directory of opportunities and support services, while also highlighting resources her own family had never encountered. Today, the website continues to evolve as users contribute new programs and recommendations, strengthening the resource network for families across the country.

Through Gold Star Hub, Ella hopes families will find more than information. She wants them to discover a sense of connection and hope. Whether a family is seeking grief support, summer camp opportunities for children, educational resources, or college financial assistance, the platform is designed to be a resource throughout every stage of their journey. Most importantly, she hopes families realize they are not alone.

Looking ahead, Ella plans to continue advocating for military families and is interested in pursuing a future in policy, law, or public service. For Gold Star Hub, her vision is to expand the resource directory, build partnerships with additional organizations, and reach more families who may not yet know help is available.

To learn more about Gold Star Hub, explore available resources, or submit a resource to help other families, visit Gold Star Hub at https://goldstarhub.org/ and follow on Instagram @gold_star_hub.