Marta Eliza Miller Foundation Launches $250,000 Nationwide Grant Initiative During National Scoliosis Awareness Month, Supporting Organizations in All 50 States and Puerto Rico

Foundation Marks Six Years of Impact and More Than $1 Million Raised for Scoliosis Awareness Through Largest Grant Initiative to Date

MEMF Support for Children's Hospital Los Angeles Surpasses $475,000; Marta Eliza Miller Named Ambassador for Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation

June 4, 2026 -In recognition of National Scoliosis Awareness Month and America's 250th anniversary, the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation (MEMF) today announced a landmark $250,000 nationwide grant initiative supporting scoliosis research, education, awareness, and patient care programs in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

The Foundation's largest grant program to date will provide funding to pediatric hospitals, healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and community partners working to improve outcomes for children and families affected by scoliosis.

The announcement marks one of the foundation's most ambitious initiatives to date, expanding its impact nationwide while advancing its mission to support children, adolescents and families navigating scoliosis. Since its founding, MEMF has helped raise more than $1 million for scoliosis awareness and research, and the organization confirmed that additional charitable contributions will be made throughout 2026, with recipient organizations to be announced in the coming months. See HERE for a full list of MEMF's National Scoliosis Awareness Month Grant Recipients.

"Co-founding the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation with my daughter has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, said Corrina Miller . Together, we have transformed a personal journey with scoliosis into a national effort to support awareness, education, research, and patient care. Every milestone we reach reflects the power of turning adversity into purpose, and we remain committed to creating lasting change for children and families affected by scoliosis."

Coinciding with the donation, MEMF founder Marta Eliza Miller has been named the newest ambassador for the Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation , the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to advance the pioneering research of the Harms Study Group (HSG), an international consortium of leading pediatric and adult spine surgeons whose collaborative research has helped establish many of the standards of care used today to treat scoliosis and other spinal deformities, advancing safer and more effective outcomes for patients worldwide. Through research funding, patient education, and community engagement, the organization works to improve outcomes for individuals living with scoliosis while providing families with trusted, evidence-based resources and support.

"The Marta Eliza Miller Foundation's nationwide commitment reflects the very heart of what drives the Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation - ensuring that every child, in every community, has access to the best possible care and the most advanced research," said Michelle Marks, Executive Director. "We are honored to welcome Marta as an ambassador. Her resilience, advocacy, and generosity embody the spirit of this work and will help elevate awareness and support for families navigating scoliosis."

"When my mom and I founded the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation, I was still a teenager navigating my own scoliosis journey," said Marta Eliza Miller . "I never imagined our experience would grow into something that could help so many others. Seeing people come together to support awareness, research, and better care for children with scoliosis has been incredibly meaningful. My hope is that every child facing this diagnosis knows they are not alone. I'm honored to deepen that commitment through my new role with the Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation and continue advocating for greater awareness, innovation, and support across the scoliosis community."

MEMF's latest contribution builds on its longstanding partnership with Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) , where the Foundation's total giving now exceeds $475,000. In recognition of its support for scoliosis research, treatment, and patient care, two rooms within CHLA's Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center bear the Foundation's name. Consistently ranked among the nation's leading pediatric orthopedic programs, the center continues to advance innovative research and specialized care for children with scoliosis and other orthopedic conditions.

Later this year, CHLA will celebrate its 125th Anniversary Gala on October 17, 2026, supporting the hospital's $1.25 billion Anniversary Campaign to expand pediatric research and access to care. The Marta Eliza Miller Foundation is proud to serve as a Titanium Sponsor the event. Honorary Campaign Chairs include Jamie Lee Curtis, Jimmy Kimmel, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Chuck Lorre. For more information, visit: https://secure1.chla.org/site/SPageNavigator/Gala/gala_homepage.html

Among the recipients of MEMF's grants is the Boston Children's Hospital , home to a world-renowned Pediatric Spine Division . The Complex Cervical Spine Program at Boston Children's Hospital is the nation's largest and longest-running program dedicated to treating children and young adults with rare and complex cervical spine disorders. Founded in 1998, the program provides highly specialized, individualized care for patients with conditions that affect spinal stability and place the spinal cord at risk, including disorders associated with skeletal dysplasia and multisystem disease. Through initiatives such as the nationally recognized ASPIRE registry , Boston Children's is helping advance research, surgical innovation, and long-term outcomes for children with scoliosis and other complex spinal conditions. MEMF's support will help accelerate these efforts and improve patient care.

Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 10 while pursuing a competitive figure skating career, Marta transformed her experience into a mission to support other young people facing similar challenges. Today, she stands out as one of only four known figure skaters with scoliosis. Throughout her skating journey, Marta has trained alongside world-renowned athletes and coaches, including Olympian Ice Dancer Yura Min and Olympian Figure Skater Misha Ge. Her perseverance and advocacy have earned national attention, including a PEOPLE Magazine feature that chronicled how the young athlete turned a life-changing diagnosis into a fundraising effort that has generated more than $1 million for scoliosis awareness and research.

In addition to her philanthropic work, Marta continues to pursue opportunities in the performing arts. She was recently cast in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at The Pocket Theatre in Hot Springs, Arkansas , where she also serves as a choreographer and dance captain.

Stay tuned for additional announcements from the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation throughout 2026.

Connect with Marta Eliza Miller Foundation

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Connect with Marta Eliza Miller

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About MEMF

The Marta Eliza Miller Foundation (MEMF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization created to support scoliosis awareness. The goal is to better educate and help youth with the mental and physical struggles of having scoliosis. The MEMF motto is to STAND TALL, BE STRONG and DREAM BIG.

About the Founder, Marta Eliza Miller

MEMF was founded in 2020 by Marta Eliza Miller and her mother Corrina. At the time, Marta was a 13-year old ice dancer and figure skater for US Figure Skating, and because her scoliosis curve had reached 48 degrees, they were unsure if she would be able to continue skating. Creating the foundation provided a sense of hope and comfort for Marta as she went through various tests, x-rays and MRI's at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Marta was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 10; she also has a shorter left leg. Because she was athletic, Marta was fit with a velcro flexible brace that she wore for twenty hours a day, during both waking and sleeping hours. Marta worked tirelessly using yoga, acupuncture and various strengthening and stretching techniques to maintain her back strength and was able to continue skating. She's been monitored bi-annually as a patient of Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) since 2019. At age 12, Marta became a Junior Ambassador for CHLA because she wanted to give back to the community that was supportive of her scoliosis journey. Since 2019, Marta has raised over one million dollars for Scoliosis Awareness. In addition, MEMF has provided $475,000 to the Spine Center location in the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center for Scoliosis research and awareness, and recently helped fund CHLA's launch of the new Momentum app. In 2024, an orthopedic patient exam room was named for the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation. And in 2026, the casting room (where casts are put on), was named the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation Casting Room. This year, the foundation looks forward to expanding their reach nationwide.

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