Boost Katie's Kids with Your Generosity

This fundraiser has been created to honor the legacy of Katie Hartnett’s life of selfless giving to her Burlington community and the children of Burlington who are in need of loving support to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Katie enjoyed these simple pleasures during her time here and did all she could to assure that all the children in her sphere had the same opportunities.

**All funds raised will go to Katie’s Kids, a registered Vermont Non-Profit (501(c)(3)) created to support Burlington community members and specifically kids in need, as Katie did throughout her life. This fund is managed by Katie’s parents, Dave and Lisa Hartnett, and a board of directors who knew and loved Katie throughout her life. **

Thank you,

Joan and Team

More about Katie from her July 21, 2023 obituary:

On a recent beautiful Vermont summer day, Katherine Grace Hartnett (Katie) departed this world. The irony that we would lose the most warm and sunny person we know, to a tragic accident on such a day does not escape us. She was outdoors and at peace.

Katie was born on June 2, 1998, to the most loving parents imaginable. Katie attended Burlington public schools before enrolling at St. Michael's College and earning an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. She furthered her studies with a M.A.T. graduate degree also from St. Michael´s. Katie was very responsible, hardworking and conscientious; she held numerous jobs to support her post-secondary education. At the time of her death, she was employed by the Burlington School District as a paraeducator in the kindergarten classroom at Champlain Elementary School. Working with children was Katie´s calling. We all enjoyed listening to Katie tell endearing stories about students, but it was evident that Katie enjoyed telling them even more. She was a talented and passionate educator who would have enjoyed a long career and would have influenced the lives of many children.

From her first day of life, Katie brought joy to all. She was born with big and beautiful eyes, and we soon learned that she used them to take in the world around her. Very little escaped Katie. Her ability to observe people and make very quick and accurate assessments of a person's character, mood, and their station in life, was extraordinary. This made her a most empathic and understanding individual. She was particularly attuned to Burlington's homeless population. It was a closely held family secret that any of the humanitarian initiatives that her father supported while on the Burlington City Council originated with Katie. It may be safe to say that Katie was the only person that could make Dave vote like a liberal. Katie spoke poignantly and eloquently on behalf of the homeless to the Burlington City Council. She was the social media advisor for several of her father's campaign´s and reveled in the role. While David and Katie were co-conspirators in politics, it was Lisa who was Katie's anchor. Lisa was also Katie's model for kindness and creativity. Her love for Katie was infinite and unconditional.

Katie's rare break from school, activities, work, and politics, was the annual trip to Maine with her parents, where she enjoyed the ocean and lobster.

Sports were a big part of Katie's life. What she lacked in physical size she made up for with determination, teamwork and intelligence. She was a four-year participant in field hockey, basketball and golf. Katie enjoyed being a member of all three teams, but basketball was her favorite. Katie was well known for her three-point shooting ability, the ¨Katie Three” could be heard at home games when her ¨moonshots¨ went through the nets. Opposing teams would yell ¨shooter” any time Katie had the ball. At her high school graduation, Katie received many awards including the Boosters Award for Character and Leadership, The Teachers Association award, The Vermont Golf scholarship, and the Burlington Elks Lodge scholarship award.

Katie leaves her parents, David and Lisa (deLaricheliere) Hartnett, her grandparents, Robert and Aline (Landry) deLaricheliere of South Burlington, her uncle, Alex deLaricheliere (Beth) Garden City, New York, her aunt Aimee deLaricheliere of South Burlington, her uncles Dan Hartnett (Sam) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Timothy Hartnett of Colchester, Michael Hartnett (Veronica) of Moore, Oklahoma, John Patrick Hartnett (Laura Bellstrom) of St. Albans, James Hartnett of South Burlington, Stephen Hartnett of Burlington and her aunt Mary Hartnett of Williston. Katie also leaves cherished cousins John Zachary and Connor Hartnett, Andrew, Robert and Millie deLaricheliere; Christian and Veronica Hartnett, and Chalalai and Rosita Grairit. Katie was predeceased by her grandparents John and Sheila Hartnett, formerly of Burlington, and her great uncle, Tom Landry of Winooski.

Katie's parents would like to acknowledge the professional and heroic efforts of the following: Police and Rescue Squads from Colchester, Stowe, Richmond, and Asheville (North Carolina), Vermont Police and Rescue, and the Air National Guard, for their help in returning her to them. They would also like to thank Mayor Miro Weinberger and Vermont Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, Jennifer Morrison for facilitating the comprehensive effort to locate Katie.

Anyone who may be interested in helping preserve Katie's generosity and idealism can make donations to a non-profit foundation being established in her name to assist the after-school programs at Burlington Elementary Schools and all children of Burlington.