At age 14, Caroline founded founded Gabriel’s Gift, a program focusing on ensuring that teens in foster care received Christmas gifts—an age group often overlooked in traditional holiday donation efforts. Since then, the organization has expanded its reach and sustainability through initiatives such as letter-writing campaigns, pop-up thrift events, and community pickleball tournaments.

Her commitment to service and her ability to mobilize support for vulnerable youth have earned recognition across the state.

“In the days leading up to Christmas of 2022 (freshman year), I noticed the last cards hanging on my church's Salvation Army Angel Tree had one thing in common: the recipients were all foster care teenagers. It struck me that children my age would not receive the gifts they hoped for, simply because their requests were more expensive. My frustration grew, knowing how teens were unfairly impacted by their uncontrollable living situation. Leaving church that Sunday, I knew I had to take action. This issue felt much bigger than something a fourteen-year-old could help with, but I was determined to do something, even if it was small.

After brainstorming with my parents, I decided to ask for donations at the upcoming student-led ministry service at my school to provide gifts for one teenager from the Angel Tree that Christmas. I was amazed when my community came together to provide enough donations for not one, but two teenagers that year. This was just the spark to something that would change my life.

January of 2023 I turned this idea into an organization, Gabriel’s Gift. I now look forward to every Christmas season and the lives of Arkansas teenagers that we will touch. 

In 2025, I was awarded Outstanding Youth Volunteer Fundraiser of the year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals for my work with Gabriel’s Gift. Spending the day celebrating something so close to my heart, alongside other incredible Philanthropists was such an honor.”