04/02/2025
“How The Teal Elephant Project Got Its Name”
They say friends are the family we choose. Being chosen by Dallas was one of the most treasured moments of my life.
Dallas was an authentic soul—there was no room for pretense in her circle. She knew my heart, my mind, my quirks, and still, she chose me as her sister. To this day, I am grateful to have Regis and Michael as family, and seeing Michael grow alongside Ellie Grace keeps her memory alive in the most beautiful way.
Dallas taught me strength—not just physically, but in every way. And even now, four years later, she continues to remind me: I can and I will. On the hardest days, I find comfort in the playlist of songs we shared, a mix of memories from Burn and a few extras from Regis. Those songs still carry me through.
In November 2019, Dallas was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the o***y, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT)—an aggressive cancer that affects young women.
And in true Dallas fashion, she met that battle head-on. She endured multiple surgeries, chemo, and radiation, refusing to let the disease define her or steal her joy for life.
It is bittersweet to share how The Teal Elephant Project came to be because it is rooted in my love for my soul sister. Dallas was—and still is—an inspiration to me and to everyone lucky enough to know her. She embodied love, acceptance, empathy, and strength. She celebrated people. Whether it was cheering on a friend’s fitness goals or throwing a party just because—Dallas believed everyone deserved to be seen and recognized.
She especially loved children. She thrived in their presence, and they adored her just as much in return.
On October 30, 2020, Dallas came to celebrate Ellie Grace’s birthday. That was the last time I saw her smile. It broke my heart to watch my once-unstoppable friend, now in pain, struggling to walk beside me. And yet, even in that moment, she never complained. She spoke life and positivity over my future, over Regis and Michael, as if she knew we would need those words to hold onto.
I, of course, started crying—apologizing, as I had so many times before, for not being the “strong friend.” She looked at me and said her final words to me in person:
"Tonja, you are stronger than you realize. And the time is coming when I’m going to need you to be strong."
For three more months, Dallas fought like the warrior she had always been. On January 29, 2021, at just 28 years old, she left this world—but not without leaving behind an unshakable legacy.
It took me six months to fully grasp what she had meant. I remember sitting in the dew covered field the listening to the sounds of the horses and nature around me, when it finally hit me. I called Regis right away and told him:
“Dallas was telling me to be strong for you and Michael. And to keep pushing forward with my vision for Serendipity.”
And on that spring morning in 2021, The Teal Elephant Project was born.
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. On my hardest days, I wear her “work” hat to remind myself to keep pushing forward. Over time, I’ve come to understand that her words weren’t just meant for me, Regis, and Michael. They were meant for so much more.
And if you’re wondering—teal was her favorite color. Elephants were her favorite animal.
That, my friends, is how The Teal Elephant Project got its name.
As we near the close of our fourth year as a nonprofit, so much has changed. While our mission remains the same, our vision has expanded in ways I never imagined. I don’t know exactly what the Creator and the universe are preparing us for—but I do know it will be something extraordinary.
For Dallas. For every child who needs a chance.
