The Ericka Wade Foundation (EWF) was founded in April 2012 in memory of Ericka Nichole Wade. EWF is a volunteer-administered, non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for causes that in some way touched Ericka’s life.

Ericka’s life was taken from on November 30, 2010, two weeks after her 20th birthday, when she was lured from home and brutally murdered. The foundation was started by Ericka’s family to effect a positive impact on the lives of others in her name. EWF currently supports Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis through their Annual 5k Family Fun Run in November. To date, EWF has raised nearly $150,000 for Shriners Hospitals for Children, and also over $5,000 for the MAC scholarship fund.

Ericka’s life had a positive effect on those around her; she was always fun to be around. She laughed often and made others laugh along with her. She loved God, her family and friends. She loved music and dancing, the St. Louis Cardinals and Johnny Depp. She cared deeply about people and was truly one in a million. EWF’s mission is to do what Ericka would be doing if she were still here, “putting others before her.”