A Chance Encounter

April 3, 2026 | PK Magazine | Uncategorized

How Grace’s joy continues to weave lives together – one friendship, one memory, one heart at a time.

Written by Grace’s Mom, Melissa Russell

**Pictured above: Grace showing her love for Dublin Root Beer**

A chance encounter – no matter how brief – can change the trajectory of your life.

You don’t always recognize it in the moment. Sometimes it takes time, reflection, or even loss before you understand just how meaningful that encounter truly was. But when you look back, you realize that one relationship, one moment of connection, quietly changed everything.

As I write this, I still find myself in awe of how far our little golf tournament – and the dream behind it – has come. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Gracie Grace’s Boots & Hearts Foundation would raise over $109,000 in just three years, donate more than 200 books to Cook Children’s, and create a community rooted in love, generosity, and Grace herself.

“Grace’s legacy isn’t just what we’ve raised – it’s the relationships that continue because of her.”

From the very beginning, my vision for the foundation and the annual golf tournament was simple: to keep making memories and creating connections – because of Grace. Again and again, those connections trace their way back to her.

Grace once told me, “Mommy, if we can sell Girl Scout Cookies, we can sell anything.” She said it with such confidence, like it was a universal truth – and in so many ways, she was right.

Our journey with Dublin Bottling Works didn’t begin as a business idea – it began as a friendship. During COVID, we met Felicia and Kent Crouch, and our families quickly became close. Because of that friendship, it felt natural to support one another by selling Dublin sodas around the lake.

The soda wasn’t about sales – it was about friendship, support, and sharing joy.”

Grace loved visiting the farm, feeding the cows, and drinking her favorite – Dublin Root Beer. In January 2022, we began delivering to a few local stores, sharing something we loved with the people we cared about.

In November 2023, another moment of connection unfolded when Fox Hollow Resort on the west side of the lake expressed interest in carrying Dublin soda. Owner Hank Erler and his son, Austin, sampled root beers together – and once again, Dublin Root Beer, Grace’s favorite, rose to the top.

**Dr. Jason Harrison and his wife Nancy, share a love of flying with The Russell family and are strong supporters of Gracie Grace’s Boots & Hearts Foundation**

Another meaningful connection came one quiet day while flipping through PK Magazine. A photo of an airplane stopped me in my tracks – it looked just like Grace’s dad’s plane. That plane belonged to Dr. Jason Harrison, whose wife, Nancy Harrison is a children’s book author. Together, they own the Motorboat Inn and Motorboat Marina – places that, like so many others in this story, have become part of Grace’s legacy.

Grace loved to fly and dreamed of becoming a flight instructor. She also loved to read and write – and later we discovered she had written her own book, dedicating it to our family.

Grace may no longer be with us in the way we wish, but she is still the center of every connection.”

Each year, in celebration of Grace’s birthday, Nancy will host an annual reading of her book A Ray of Love at Cook Children’s – a meaningful tradition born from friendship and a reminder that Grace’s story continues to touch hearts.

We invite you to join us on September 12, 2026 at the Cliffs Golf Course for the Boots & Hearts Classic – to honor Grace, make memories, raise money for a worthy cause, and enjoy a cold Dublin Root Beer featuring a unique label for a very unique girl.

Because sometimes, all it takes is one chance encounter to change everything.

Golf tournament information and sponsorship opportunities can be found on our website: graciegracesbootsandhearts.org