‘Shine Like Hailey:’ New foundation to honor 11-year-old girl killed in Raleigh parade

April and Trey Brooks assembled their family of five for their beloved family holiday tradition of watching the Raleigh Christmas parade last November. It would be particularly special as their oldest daughter, 11-year-old Hailey, was performing in the parade alongside her dance troupe.

But hours later, tragedy struck, and the Brooks family returned home as a family of four.

On Nov. 19, Hailey Kaye Brooks was killed after being hit by an out-of-control truck during the annual Raleigh Christmas parade. In the four months since her death, her family has received an outpouring of support from the community, inspiring them to announce their first major life venture without Hailey.

On Wednesday, April and Trey Brooks announced the creation of “Shine Like Hailey,” a foundation created in her honor.

“We just want to let people know who Hailey was,” Trey Brooks said at the Wake County courthouse.

Trey and April Brooks spoke with reporters after a court appearance by Landen Glass, 20. Glass was in court to have the conditions of his release set on his new charge of involuntary manslaughter. He was driving the truck that hit the Brooks’ daughter in the parade. Judge Keith Gregory set Glass’s secured bond at $250,000; required that Glass have electronic monitoring and banned him from driving in North Carolina without being properly licensed.

In the aftermath of Hailey’s death, the Brooks family received more than $100,000 in donations.

“The hope is that this campaign will generate enough funds to not only support the family, but also allow them to establish a non-profit organization in Hailey’s honor with the goal of carrying out her legacy,” the GoFundMe description reads.

“Hailey had a kind and humble heart that was always focused on caring for the needs of those around her,” the Brooks family told The N&O in a statement in November.

Although the mission and aim of the foundation have not been released yet, Trey Brooks said he hopes this tragedy can help create “meaningful change” in regard to safety protocols at parades. Most importantly, he said, this foundation was created to remember and honor his daughter.

Hailey was a dancer who lit up on stage, Brooks said. Through tears and a consoling hug from his wife, he said he remembers Hailey for her kindness.

”As a father — as her parents — we can’t really put into words the individual she was,” Brooks said. “She was a beautiful life. She was kind and caring, brilliant and beautiful. She was a free spirit who yearned to be around people. She loved to give a big hug, and that’s what we’ll remember about who she was.”

This story was originally published March 29, 2023 at 1:56 PM.