ABOUT US

Co-Founder, Logistics, Project Coordinator + Eva’s Mom

Kila is a 36-year-old wife and mother of five. She has three living children, Maxwell (7), Mia (3) & Luke (1), and two babies waiting on her in heaven, Gabriella and Eva Katherine. Kila is originally from Arkansas, but has called Monroe, Louisiana home for the past 18 years. Kila graduated from The University of Louisiana at Monroe with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Nursing in 2008, and has practiced as a Registered Nurse for the last 14 years in the areas of Cardiovascular ICU, Recovery Room, Emergency Room, Case Management, Marketing, and Outpatient Addiction Medicine . Kila enjoys traveling with her family, watching movies, and spending time outdoors. After enduring years of infertility, Kila finally became pregnant only to discover at 16 weeks that her daughter, Eva Katherine, would die shortly after her birth due to a very rare and fatal condition called Limb Body Wall Complex. Kila quickly realized she could either let this tragedy completely destroy her or she could use it for good. She then completed the training to become a Certified Birth & Bereavement Doula and started the Non-Profit Organization, I Will Carry You, along with her husband, Cesar, whom she states is her biggest supporter. Kila is fiercely passionate about serving mothers and families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss and she says she has peace knowing that she is able to honor Eva and use her past heartache for good. She considers it an absolute honor to take families by the hand and walk them through the loss of a child. Kila co-founded The Angel’s Gala with fellow loss mother, Maranda Salters, founder of the Zoey Renee Project, and is beyond thrilled and honored to watch it grow and bless the Northern Louisiana community year after year.

Co-Founder, Procurement Coordinator + Zoey’s Mom

Maranda is a 38-year-old mother to 3 living children; Keegan (10) and twins, Kelbie (9) and Shelbie (9). Zoey, the caboose of her family, is awaiting her in heaven. Maranda has been a nurse for 15 years now with a focus in geriatrics, addiction, med surg and Long Term Acute Care.

Maranda is originally from Bastrop, Louisiana, but currently calls Calhoun home. She spent 5 years living in Ohio where she made lots of memories and founded the Zoey Renee Project. The Zoey Renee Project was founded after Zoey, the caboose of the family, passed away at the tender age of 6 weeks due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS remains the leading cause of death in children under the age of one in the United States.

Maranda often states “the grief of infant loss is like the ocean waves, when a wave comes it reminds her that Zoey was real.” She likes to call them “waves from Heaven”. She knows Zoey's purpose was to come to help save other babies so their parents wouldn't have to walk this journey. Maranda co-founded the Angel’s Gala along with Kila Gonzales, founder of I Will Carry You, to continue to show parents they are not alone and to help break the stigma surrounding infant loss. The Zoey Renee Project was able to provide 2,000 Owlet monitors to families before closing 12/2022.

Entertainment/Program Coordinator + Sam’s Mom

Shady Honaker is an east Texas native who now lives in West Monroe, Louisiana. She has been married to her husband Don since 2015 and has three children; Luke, Samuel (Sam) and Chandler. Shady graduated from ULM with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and has six years of neonatal intensive care unit experience. She's spent 3 of those years working at Willis Knighton South caring for infants within a level III regional transport center NICU. Shady went back to school and graduated from Northwestern State with her Masters of Science in Nursing degree and her Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Certification. She is currently a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner practicing for The Louisiana Department of Health in regions 6/8 reproductive health program. She has a special love for infertility and pregnancy after loss and hopes one day to be able to practice within one of those settings. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children, watching Friends or The Big Bang Theory and working out at CrossFit West Ouachita. Sweet Samuel was stillborn January 27th of 2021 and Shady has since started a 501C3 Non-Profit Organization in his honor called Sam’s Love. Along with Sam’s Love, Shady also continues to be an active committee member of The Angel’s Gala to help other families walking through this journey of pregnancy & infant loss.

Guest Experience & Volunteer Coordinator + Joshua’s Mom

April was raised in Northeast Louisiana and currently calls West Monroe, Louisiana home. She has been happily married to her husband, Mike, since 2003, and they have four beautiful children: Justin (22), Kaitlyn (20), Jacob (18) and Rebekah (16). April enjoys helping others through her bookkeeping business, Bagby Business Solutions, and enjoys meeting local families through their rental business, Bagby Rental. Her favorite pasttimes include camping, kayaking, traveling and reading a good book, when time allows. Mike and April have a heart for pregnancy and infant loss after losing their son, Joshua, at 19 weeks gestation. They understand the pain of loss and the feeling of being left alone to mourn the loss of a child. They hope to provide comfort to others and give their families a voice for their children and an avenue for their stories to live on. April is grateful to be a part of The Angel’s Gala because she has seen firsthand how it has united families, brought comfort to an unthinkable situation, and removed the stigma of pregnancy and infant loss.

Public Relations/Media + Sponsorship Coordinator + Olivia’s Mom

Chandler Gaiennie is a Northeast Louisiana native. She is currently fulfilling her dream as a stay at home mom to her and Jimmy’s 3 children. She is also a self taught digital creator in all realms of social media and graphic design.

Jimmy and Chandler have been married since 2017 and have 5 children together, 3 earth side, Adaleigh 9, Mac 6, and Sally 2 months, and 2 babies in Heaven, Olivia and Teddy. After their own experience with infant loss, Jimmy and Chandler became passionate about helping others who have walked the same dark road. Chandler now serves on the Angels Gala committee as the sponsorship and PR coordinators, and both Jimmy and Chandler serve on the bereavement suite committee.

Decor + Guest Experience/VIP Coordinator

Amy Snow was born and raised in NELA and is proud to also be raising her children in the Monroe/West Monroe area. She has four beautiful children including two bonus daughters, Madi and Tiffany, as well as her son Ethan and daughter Chloe Grace.

Amy is the Business Manager at Strategic Counseling Solutions where their mission is to bring hope, healing and restoration while showing the love of Christ to others. She says that over the years being at SCS, she has come to realize that there is such a need for people to just be seen and heard in their hurting. Amy understands that when we have not experienced the same hurts or trauma that someone else has, we may have a hard time understanding their pain. Amy believes that when stories are shared, understanding comes and that’s when we can offer our love and grace to help others along their way. Amy says that since starting out as a volunteer with the Angel’s Gala, she has learned so much from the incredible women that make up the committee and knows that there is such a need to bring awareness to our community regarding infant loss.

In her spare time, Amy enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, girls’ nights, and listening to local live bands. She also has a creative side and enjoys making cake pops for all occasions, as well as coordinating, planning, and decorating events such as parties and weddings. This will be Amy's third year at the Angels Gala. Her first two years she served as a volunteer and now she is serving as a committee member. She feels blessed to be able to volunteer for such a beautiful event honoring Angel babies and their families. Amy says there are no words to express what these sweet families go through, but to be able to give back in any way possible is an honor and a privilege.

Graphic + Web Designer, Social Media Manager and Content Creator

Savanna is a Montana native who graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Management Information Systems (a hybrid technology and business degree). She worked locally for several years in technology and medical sales but decided to leave Big Sky Country for an even BIGGER opportunity with a new laboratory sales company in Louisiana. After moving 1500 miles away she ended up in a new career she adores and fell in love with with her now husband, Brandon. She is a stepmom to an amazing little girl and on New Years Day of 2022 the family welcomed their son, Walker. She has a passion for creativity, design, problem solving and helping others. She is honored to be a part of the Angel’s Gala team and looks forward to helping with the 2024 Gala and beyond.

Grant Coordinator

Staci is a single mother of three beautiful children on Earth and 1 angel in Heaven. Her son, Roman was born silent. For 5 years, she tirelessly operated Roman's Wings of Hope, a nonprofit in Lafayette, LA. They broke the silence, made history and brought the first ever cuddle cots (similar to caring cradles) to the state of Louisiana. In 2018 Staci felt God had fulfilled her sons purpose and she continues to watch his legacy unfold. After life changes, Staci and her children made the journey to North Louisiana. She is honored to once again be apart of the pregnancy and infant loss community, shattering the silence and telling the world, “our babies do exist, they matter.”