Emily Grace Koenig
July 8, 1990 – December 11, 2002
Over
1.2 million
cases
of bacterial meningitis are estimated to occur worldwide every year.
Despite advances in clinical care, bacterial meningitis remains a severe disease with a high risk of complications that may lead to death or severe side effects.
Emily’s Dash Foundation
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting charitable efforts that honor the life of Emily Grace Koenig, including:
- funding bacterial meningitis awareness, vaccinations, and research
- supporting anti-bullying, diversity, and children’s literacy
- awarding annual scholarships at Villa Maria Academy
Emily’s Legacy
The Emily’s Dash Foundation supports the Meningitis Progress Tracker in memory of Emily Grace Koenig, whose life and memory continue to inspire efforts to protect others from meningitis.
Established by Emily’s parents, Sue and Al Koenig, the Foundation honours Emily’s life by helping to protect others from this devastating disease. Their support reflects a shared commitment to improving global understanding of meningitis and accelerating progress towards defeating it.
Having already contributed $19,000 to the Meningitis Progress Tracker and established an in-perpetuity grant to ensure its continued support, the Emily’s Dash Foundation has demonstrated a long-term commitment to defeating meningitis.
Meningitis Research Foundation & the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations are deeply grateful to Sue and Al Koenig and the Emily’s Dash Foundation for their extraordinary generosity and for joining in their mission to defeat meningitis.
Learn more about
Emily’s Dash Foundation ›
“For that dash represents all the time that Emily spent alive on earth, and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.”
Excerpt from “The Dash” by Linda Ellis
Emily Grace Koenig, born July 8, 1990, was known for her vibrant personality and inherent dedication to all that she tackled in life, including writing her very own book about anti-bullying. Falling ill in December 2002, Emily’s health deteriorated at an alarmingly rapid rate, causing her parents to take her to the nearby hospital. She passed away only a few short hours later after being diagnosed with vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis.
Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis
Sudden High Fever
Stiff Neck
Petechiae
Headache
Nausea or Vomiting
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis can mimic symptoms of the flu, especially in the early stages, but the presence of petechiae (tiny, round brown-purple spots due to bleeding under the skin) indicates a more serious issue and should be addressed immediately.
For more information about symptoms, prevention, and treatment, please visit the CDC’s website.