Cathie’s Magical Memories is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy and healing to children who have lost a parent or are navigating the challenges of having a terminally ill parent. We create opportunities for families to experience the magic of Walt Disney World together—stepping away from grief and worry, and instead embracing moments of laughter, love, and connection.
“Thank you so much to Cathie’s Magical Memories for sponsoring our trip and choosing us. This nonprofit is wonderful. It was truly magical for all of us. We cried, we laughed and danced and knew that DJ was with us.”
This year, Cathie’s Magical Memories reached a very special milestone—we sponsored our first family trip.
Our mission has always been to create and preserve magical memories for children and families who are grieving the loss of a parent. Grief can be overwhelming, especially for children, and moments of joy can feel difficult to find. That’s why these trips are so important.
They are not just vacations—they are opportunities for families to step away from the weight of everyday grief, to reconnect, and to begin healing together. A change of scenery, shared laughter, and new experiences can help families remember that love, joy, and hope are still part of their story.
Sponsoring our first trip this year is only the beginning. We are deeply committed to creating many more opportunities for healing through memory-making, and with the support of our community, we can continue to bring light into the lives of families during their most difficult times.
Together, we can ensure that even in the face of loss, children and families have moments of magic, comfort, and connection to carry with them always.
Our Story
Cathie's Magical Memories is a non-profit that brings kids who have lost a parent to Walt Disney World with their surviving family to create new memories with their new normal and start to heal. Help us fund our first trips to Disney World for deserving families.
Cathie's Magical Memories was started by Lindsay and Courtnay Dollinger in March 2024. Cathie was their mother and she passed away from a 16-year battle with breast cancer in 2015. Despite her health challenges, Cathie loved going with her family to Disney, and Lindsay and Courtnay cherish their Disney memories made with their family.
After their mother's passing, Courtnay, Lindsay and their dad, Gary, have visited Disney several times to make more memories in their happy place. They saw how impactful this type of trip could be for a family when grieving, and know that bringing this experience to kids who have lost a parent can really help the healing and growing process.
