Grief is a universal experience, deeply felt yet difficult to articulate. Josh and Carly Berg know this all too well. Last November, they faced the unimaginable when their six-year-old daughter, Ellie, passed away unexpectedly while just playing outside. Her departure left the world a little less bright and Josh and Carly a lot more broken.
Navigating life without Ellie has been anything but easy. A piece of themselves missing, Josh and Carly are still struggling to understand the basis of what their lives have become. However, instead of letting misery consume them, the pair have channeled their grief into something profoundly positive: the Be Like Ellie Foundation, a tribute to their daughter’s extraordinary spirit.
“Ellie was just one of those special kids,” says Josh, describing her as a “happy person with a magical ability to make those around her feel special.” Ellie, with her boundless positivity, was known for her impromptu acts of kindness: sending handwritten letters to her grandparents and teachers just because she wanted to, complimenting strangers’ shoes, and telling every police officer she’d meet “thank you for keeping us safe.” Family and friends described Ellie as an “old soul,” a six-year-old (or six and three-quarters as Ellie would say) wickedly comfortable around adults, opting to sit at the adult table chatting while her peers ran around elsewhere. She enjoyed being present, much preferring to engage with those around her, Josh “counting on hands the amount of times she asked or wanted to watch TV.” And yet, she was still a kid, one who loved coloring, dancing, hiking, camping—even grocery shopping with her mom; Ellie just loved to be around other people.
Most of all, Ellie loved music. Teaching herself to play the ukulele, Josh and Carly found themselves sharing videos of her performances, engrossed at the magnificent ability of her young mind, going beyond simply strumming and swaying but consciously creating lyrics and songs, love ballads now tattooed upon Josh’s forearm. Introducing Ellie to Phish and the jam band scene very young, she instantly became one of their youngest fans, loving Trey Anastasio and the band so much so that Ellie declared their dog would be named Mango after their iconic The Mango Song.
From this vibrant spirit and with the help of Josh and Carly’s family, the Be Like Ellie Foundation was born. The organization honors Ellie’s passion for being kind, spreading love, and playing music. Whether through outreach programs and volunteering initiatives or smaller tasks like donations for an in-need child’s music lessons or helping a neighbor with a flat tire, the foundation aims to “build a more caring and inclusive society where every act of kindness ripples outward to create a brighter, more compassionate world for all,” one in which Ellie lived each and every day. Creating this foundation provides Josh and Carly a way to channel grief into something meaningful. Carly adds, “It’s a way for us to survive, putting a purpose behind the completely unfathomable.”
This September, the foundation will host its first annual Be Like Ellie Concert, a celebration of their daughter’s love for music and community. The event will feature local vendors, a silent auction, and of course, great music. Headlining the concert is Mr. Mota, a band Josh discovered years ago and immediately reached out to when discussions of a fundraising concert began. Opening the concert is Better Hallway Vision, whom Josh and Carly first heard at the ToeJam. Speaking volumes on the impact of spreading kindness, the band’s excitement about their invitation has been palpable, the group’s bassist sharing that playing the Fox Theater was a long-held dream come true, possible now thanks to them.
Through their journey, the pair have witnessed the incredible support of their community. From heartfelt messages and gestures from friends and family to unexpected song dedications from Phish to strangers who unknowingly honor Ellie’s spirit, they’ve encountered countless examples of generosity and warmth, truly proving that kindness knows no bounds. They invite their community to share in Ellie’s honor this September 21st and beyond, to keep being kind, spreading love, and playing music.
To learn more, buy tickets, and donate to the foundation, head to BeLikeEllie.com.
"Sometimes the biggest shoes to fill, are the smallest."