Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare, and for the Mills family, that nightmare became reality when their 16-year-old daughter, Kailee, lost her life in a tragic car accident. In the days following her passing, they were consumed with grief, searching for answers to the agonizing question, “Why did this happen?” In those devastating days, David Mills, Kailee's father, uncovered a startling fact—car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers and people aged 1 to 54.
Just days after the accident, David stood at her roadside memorial, speaking to her friends who had gathered in prayer. In that moment, he felt a powerful calling to raise awareness about the importance of seat belt safety. The thought of preventing just one family from enduring this heartbreak fueled his mission.
As the Mills family sought ways to honor Kailee’s memory, David was shocked to discover that no awareness ribbon for car crash prevention existed. Determined, he created one himself. The ribbon quickly gained traction, and soon people all over were requesting Kailee’s ribbon to display on their vehicles. The family was overwhelmed by the support they received from friends, family, and the community. They knew they had to turn this outpouring of love into action.
Thus, the Kailee Mills Foundation was born. Its mission: to raise awareness about seat belt safety and provide support to families affected by similar tragedies. The foundation organizes events and runs social media campaigns. One of their most impactful initiatives is their school programs, now in all 50 states, which educate students about seat belt safety and encourage them to be advocates for change. At a safety conference, a Harris County Deputy shared how his daughter insisted he buckle up, reminding him of Kailee’s story. As they were leaving their neighborhood, she said, “Daddy, you need to buckle up. At school, I learned about a girl named Kailee who didn’t buckle up near her neighborhood.” He now always wears his seat belt, grateful for the lesson she learned. The message is simple yet powerful: “Buckle Up, Someone Loves You.”
Seven years later, the foundation has donated over a million dollars in family assistance and scholarships, and they continue to hear stories of lives saved by their message. What began as a family’s effort to prevent one tragedy has grown into a global movement, with Kailee’s legacy touching lives and making roads safer across the world.