National Memorial to Honor Camila Mendoza Olmos; Foundation Announces Direct Financial Support for Family Funeral Efforts
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- Jan 4
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation
(The Uvalde Foundation For Kids)
254-499-8027
726-237-9899
National Memorial to Honor Camila Mendoza Olmos; Foundation Announces Direct Financial Support for Family Funeral Efforts
SAN ANTONIO — Jan. 1, 2026 — The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (The Uvalde Foundation For Kids), a national 501(c)(3) violence prevention and student advocacy group formed after the 2022 mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, announced today that 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos will be permanently honored through its national Trees for Peace Youth Gun Violence Memorial.
FULL STORY HERE
Following the recovery of remains believed to be those of Mendoza Olmos on Tuesday, the Foundation has moved to ensure her life is remembered through its living memorial initiative. A memorial tree will be planted in her honor within the Davy Crockett National Forest in Texas.
Direct Financial Support & Family Coordination
The Foundation is currently raising funds through an independent fundraiser to provide immediate financial relief for funeral and related expenses. The Foundation has been in direct communication with the father’s side of the family, who will be overseeing the funeral arrangements. It is confirmed that all funds raised by the Foundation for this cause will be distributed directly to the father’s efforts to ensure Camila is laid to rest with dignity.
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A Milestone for Mental Health Advocacy
While the national memorial was originally designed to honor young lives lost to interpersonal acts of gun violence, Mendoza Olmos represents a somber milestone. Her memorial tree will be the first recognized by the foundation for a victim who lost their life to gun-related suicide.
"Camila’s death is a heartbreaking reminder that the epidemic of gun violence has many faces, including the silent struggle of mental health crises," said Daniel Chapin, founder of the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation. "By including Camila in our national memorial, we are acknowledging that every life lost to a firearm—regardless of the circumstances—is a tragedy that demands our attention and our action."
Demand for Political Commitment
In response to this loss, the Foundation is intensifying its advocacy for preventative measures and increased community mental health care and awareness programming and outreaches
The Foundation continues to offer its 24-hour peer and professional support team to any youth or community member in need at 254-499-8027.
About the Trees for Peace National Memorial:
The Trees for Peace initiative is a living tribute dedicated to honoring the lives of youth lost to gun violence across the United States. By planting trees in national forests, the Foundation seeks to create a permanent, peaceful legacy while raising awareness for youth safety and mental health reform.
About the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation:
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation is a national nonprofit dedicated to ending the epidemic of violence and advocating for the welfare of youth. Through its R.I.P. (Recognize-Intervene-Prevent) model, YPJF provides communities with training and crisis support to ensure the safety of America’s youth.
