William B. “Billy” Dunavant Jr. Foundation Gives Back

The William B. “Billy” Dunavant Jr. Foundation is a Diamond Level Founding Donor of Seacrest Studios at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in honor of Billy’s daughter, Kelli Dunavant.

Billy passed away in September 2021 but was inspired by the work Kelli performed as an intern in Le Bonheur’s Child Life department in 2003 and her subsequent philanthropic contributions to Le Bonheur. During Kelli’s internship, she saw the need for more activities for teen patients at Le Bonheur. She raised money to fund the project and in 2004 Le Bonheur opened a Teen Room in the hospital. Billy was so proud that Kelli identified an important way to improve the patient experience at the hospital and helped create this special room at Le Bonheur.

Billy left instructions for his Foundation to make a gift to Le Bonheur in honor of Kelli. When Le Bonheur presented Billy’s widow, Tommie, with the opportunity to help bring Seacrest Studios to the hospital, she knew this was the perfect project. When Tommie mentioned this prospect to Kelli, she was thrilled because she knows the positive impact Seacrest Studios would have on patients, families and Associates at Le Bonheur. Tommie prayed over every gift she made from Billy’s foundation, and she just knew that this gift to Le Bonheur for Seacrest Studios was the perfect project.

If you would like information about how you also can support Le Bonheur through a gift from your estate plan, please contact Cathy Wilson at 901-287-5575 or catherine.wilson@lebonheur.org or go to https://lebonheur.planmygift.org/.