A Legacy of Purposeful Action
Before officially launching Dancing with Fireflies Foundation as a 501(c)(3) in 2025, our journey began in the small, quiet moments of service. For years, we worked side-by-side, teaching our children that even the smallest act of kindness can create a ripple of meaningful change.
These shared experiences inspired us to focus our efforts on the most vulnerable youth in our communities. We are committed to ensuring that children in the foster care system experience the dignity, comfort, and joy they deserve during their most uncertain times.
“Dancing with Fireflies was born from a shared vision between friends who wanted to create a soft place to land for those walking through the darkest nights. While leadership and seasons change, the foundation remains deeply grateful for the initial spark of inspiration and trust that set this journey in motion.”
A Multi-Generational, Dedicated Team
Built on a foundation of shared values, our leadership blends seasoned professional experience with the fresh, analytical energy of the next generation. As mothers, daughters, educators, entrepreneurs, and technical innovators, we bring a specialized perspective to foster care advocacy. We don’t just focus on a child’s physical needs; we prioritize the emotional dignity and the sense of “home” that every child deserves.
Why Our Model is Different
Professional Integrity: We manage every resource with absolute transparency, precision, and the high standards of corporate and technical operational excellence.
Emotional Dignity: We believe a “home” is more than a roof; it is a sense of belonging. Our initiatives are intentionally designed to ensure every child feels seen, valued, and loved.
A Scalable Mission: Our mission is built to address critical gaps where the need is greatest within the foster care system. While our vision is rooted in regional advocacy, our model is built for sustainable growth. We are developing a replicable, high-standard model of care designed to expand our reach and bring stability to vulnerable youth in every community we touch.
“By modeling purposeful, multi-generational leadership, we are proving that a dedicated community can spark a movement of light and hope that grows with every child we touch.“
Meet Our Board
Jennifer Heitz
Founder, President, Board Director
Jennifer Heitz is the principal architect and operational lead of the Dancing with Fireflies Foundation. A seasoned entrepreneur with a mastery of organizational design, Jennifer built the foundation’s infrastructure from the ground up, ensuring a seamless transition from vision to execution. Her professional background—ranging from high-precision roles as a Security Design Admin in Silicon Valley to successfully launching and helping run multiple small businesses—provides the essential administrative backbone and entrepreneurial grit required to power the organization’s daily operations.
Beyond her technical expertise, Jennifer’s vocation is rooted in the advocacy and holistic development of youth. Her years as a public school para-educator for special needs students and a decade of leadership within the Girl Scouts and Frontier Girls organizations have deeply informed her approach to nonprofit work. As a devoted homeschooling parent, she leads with a nurturing yet strategic focus on early-intervention support. Through the Dancing with Fireflies Foundation, Jennifer channels her lifelong passion for helping others into tangible impact—bringing light, dignity, and hope to vulnerable children by providing a foundation of love and stability to help them grow into independent, well-rounded adults.
📬 Contact: jennifer@dancingwithfireflies.org
Amy Brown
Founding Member, Secretary, Board Director
Amy brings a lifelong dedication to foster care advocacy and early childhood development to the Dancing with Fireflies Foundation. Inspired by her father—a child abuse detective and community advocate—and her grandparents, who served as foster and adoptive parents, Amy’s commitment to vulnerable youth is deeply personal. Her academic background in the Administration of Justice and Early Childhood Education provides her with a comprehensive understanding of the systems and emotional needs surrounding children in crisis.
With 16 years of experience in preschool education and a successful tenure as an office manager, Amy offers a wealth of knowledge in child development and administrative coordination. Her history of service is extensive, having served as a Boy Scout den mom, a Girl Scout leader, and a longtime board member of the Coyote Ridge PTA. Married to her high school sweetheart, a recently retired law enforcement officer, Amy leads with a foundation of integrity and compassion. At Dancing with Fireflies, she utilizes her specialized expertise to ensure that the foundation’s programs remain centered on the safety, growth, and long-term success of every child they serve.
Vanessa Heitz
Founding Member, Treasurer, Board Director
Vanessa Heitz provides the analytical precision and fiscal accountability at the core of the Dancing with Fireflies Foundation. A former member of the National Honor Society and a top 5% graduate of the class of 2025, Vanessa manages the foundation’s financial resources with rigorous transparency. Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, she is a member of her college’s Engineering and Physics clubs. Her high-level aptitude for mathematics, logic, and complex problem-solving makes her uniquely suited to oversee the organization’s financial health and strategic resource allocation.
Vanessa’s technical skill is grounded in a deep-seated commitment to community outreach that began in early childhood. For years, she has been a dedicated “hands-on” volunteer—from packing meals for hungry children across the world and crafting with the elderly to tutoring low-income students and personally assembling care bags for foster youth. In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys playing piano, gaming, and cooking—often adding a signature spicy twist to her dishes. She also loves spending time with her family and her beloved two cats and dog. Whether she is analyzing financial data or volunteering in the field, Vanessa approaches every task with a blend of logical discipline and genuine empathy.
Message from the Board: A Legacy of Care, Handed Down
“Our strength comes from this unique perspective—the wisdom of experience paired with the energy of the next generation. By joining us, you are supporting an initiative dedicated to bringing stability and light to the most vulnerable youth. Together, we are building a legacy of care that treats every child like one of our own.”
The Founding Circle
“Every mission needs a foundation, and every dream needs a family to believe in it. This circle recognizes the individuals who participated in the initial launch phase of the Dancing with Fireflies Foundation. We are grateful for the early creative sparks and support that helped bring this mission to light.”
Jennifer Heitz – Founder, Core Architect, VP (2025-2026) & President (2026-Present)
Vanessa Heitz – Founding Board Member & Inaugural Treasurer (2025-Present)
Amy Brown – Founding Board Member & Secretary (2025-Present)
Katherine Cadiz – Past President & Founding Member (2025-2026)
Jacqueline Cadiz – Past Secretary & Founding Member (2025-2026)