A Mother-Daughter Duo with Transformative Compassion

Lessons we learn in childhood can profoundly shape us, molding our character and instilling values that resonate throughout our lives. Bella Chramosta’s parents paved the way for her to help others, specifically her mother, Donae (Cangelosi) Chramosta. Bella’s parents fostered a passion for philanthropy in her from a young age, laying the foundation for a lifetime devoted to community service.
In the Chramosta household, birthday celebrations take on an impactful twist. Instead of receiving the customary birthday presents, Bella’s family encourages donations to charitable causes. While initially, this concept was challenging to grasp as a younger child, this practice instilled a spirit of altruism in Bella. “Focusing on the needs of others became the norm to me,” Bella recalls, “and I really think it was the start of how charity work is ingrained in me. I remember being pretty young at my mom’s 50th birthday party, walking around the event to help fundraise and raise awareness for KnowAutism.”
Guided by Donae, whom Bella cited as her greatest inspiration, Bella found giving back to the community a natural fit. We asked Donae the advice she would give to other parents who want to nurture similar values in their children, and she shared, “We lead by example, as philanthropy is a natural part of our lives. Generally, people should support causes at any age and act on things that fulfill them. As Co-Owner of Vintage Contessa & Times Past, fashion is my livelihood and is one avenue I use to give back to the community. I tend to merge something that feels organic, like fashion, with my philanthropy as I gravitate to being involved in numerous fashionable charity events.”
Donae and Bella also have used personal obstacles as inspiration to give back. Donae shared, “Hard things build empathy. Often, trauma bonds people. When a person is faced with a challenge, it helps them to develop the tools they need to overcome obstacles and be more empathetic. Also, giving back while you are struggling can be a way to gain perspective. It’s the one time math doesn’t really work – to overcome an obstacle by giving energy into helping someone else.”

In addition, the Chramosta family leverages their time away from Houston to give back. Donae shared, “Our family spends a lot of time in Vail, and when we are there, we intentionally spend some time volunteering. When a family is on vacation, when you have fewer distractions, it is a great way to connect meaningfully with each other and others in need.”
When asked for advice for other young individuals eager to embark on their journey of giving, Bella emphasizes the importance of starting small and finding ways to contribute within one’s means. Drawing from her own experiences, she suggests getting involved in school service projects and leveraging personal strengths.
With a passion for math and a knack for managing money, Bella’s pursuits seamlessly intertwined with her desire to make a difference. Bella fondly recalls her involvement with the Vail Valley Foundation’s Magic Bus Preschool Program. Through this initiative, she leveraged her academic strengths to tutor and empower young math learners and witnessed early education’s transformative power in shaping lives. Bella’s love for math opened doors to innate philanthropic opportunities.

When Bella was about 12 years old, she started participating in Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Family Giving Circle. The Family Giving Circle allows families and youth to learn, volunteer, and grant together in the greater Houston area. The Family Giving Circle is led by the Youth Leadership Team, which Bella is now a part of. The Family Giving Circle is a peer network of students ages 7th-10th grade interested in learning about the nonprofit landscape and how to be a thoughtful and strategic grant maker.
Initially, Donae shared that she “was drawn to the Family Giving Circle for Bella because it was an intimate group of families that participated in a lot of meaningful conversations surrounding philanthropy in Houston.” Bella said, “Even as a student, the Family Giving Circle allows us to have a voice throughout the journey. We get to be a part of the grantmaking process from the ground up, and we [the students] lead the decision-making.”
As Bella delves deeper into philanthropy, she is drawn to pressing social issues in her hometown of Houston, such as human trafficking. Motivated by a sense of urgency and concern for her community’s well-being, Bella actively participates in initiatives to combat this pervasive problem by serving on the Junior Board of Houston 20, a Field of Interest Fund at Greater Houston Community Foundation. Donae is also involved with the Houston 20 leadership, which consists of a group of influential and committed Texans who advocate for the end of sex trafficking and sex trade in Houston. Houston 20 supports nonprofit organizations in the region that provide direct services to victims and survivors, ending demand and advocating to change laws. Bella and Donae’s involvement with Houston 20 underscores their commitment to raising awareness and affecting positive change.
In November, Bella will be recognized as a 2024 Youth of Substance Honoree at the 8th annual Women of Substance Luncheon hosted by Houston reVision, an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of juvenile justice involvement among unhoused youth in Harris County.
Bella and Donae have no plans to decelerate their philanthropic activities together, as it strengthens their bond, and creates meaningful experiences for them both. This fall, Bella and Donae will co-chair The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency Rockin’ Resiliency Luncheon. This event will provide needed resources to equip Houston area women and girls with the resiliency skills needed for self-efficacy, decision-making, goal setting, communication, and resourcefulness. These skills are vital to ensuring positive health outcomes for individuals and communities. In addition, along with her parents, Bella will co-host a Gala Kickoff Event for the Hope Gala, benefitting Hope BioSciences Research Foundation (HBRF). HBRF, a supporting organization of Greater Houston Community Foundation, works to deliver safe and efficacious cellular-based therapeutics into patients’ hands faster.
With college on the horizon, Bella envisions integrating community service into her academic pursuits. Already, Bella has an opportunity to help with a clothing drive in Miami, around a prospective university she is interested in attending.
Bella and Donae are a duo driving impact – a blend of empathy, action, and unwavering commitment to create positive change. As they continue to trailblaze a path of service, individually and together, their story serves as a beacon of inspiration for people in any stage of life, reminding all of us that there are no age restrictions when it comes to transformative compassion.
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