Abbey's Hope Water Safety Mission

Katey Taylor is president and co-founder of the Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation. Katey had been a "typical" stay-at-home mom until June 29, 2007. It was on that summer evening that one of her four daughters, 6-year-old Abbey, was disemboweled by a faulty drain in a wading pool. Over the next nine months Abbey would endure 16 surgeries and a triple-organ transplant, before finally losing her battle in March 2008.

Abbey's hope was that what happened to her would never happen to another child. In her name, the Taylors formed Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation in July 2008. To fulfill Abbey's legacy, Katey and her husband, Scott, work to advocate for children and to educate parents, community leaders and others of the dangers in and around pools.

Katey has a Bachelor of Science degree in family education, child protection and public health from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. In December 2008, Katey received her Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO) certification from the National Swimming Pool Foundation. She serves on the Advisory Board of Minnesota SafeKids, is a member of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, and a member of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

Sam Carolus is the Program Manager for the Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation where she assists in the day to day operations of the organization.  Sam has enjoyed working in the non-profit sector in Minnesota. Before joining AHCF, Sam was the Minnesota Public Affairs Manager for Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota and part of a coalition that worked with the Minnesota legislature to pass legislation banning the toxic chemical BPA from all children's sippy cups and bottles. Sam has also worked with the YMCA of Minneapolis and Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights.

As a new mother, Sam in honored to be working for an organization focused on child safety. She is a graduate of Indiana University.