About The Bethany Markowski Foundation

We exist because of one little girl, and because of what her family learned about what it truly means to face the unimaginable without support.

The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Wilson County, Tennessee. We support families of missing children and provide free child safety education across Tennessee, because no family should have to navigate the search for a missing child alone.

Bethany’s Story

Bethany Leanne Markowski was 11 years old when she disappeared on March 4, 2001, in Jackson, Tennessee. She was feisty, full of personality, and impossible to forget. She mixed glitter into her lip balm. She loved butterflies and buttercups. She was wearing a lime green shirt the day she disappeared, a color our family will carry with us forever.

Bethany has never been found. Her case remains open under Case #01-4723 in the 26th Judicial District. She is listed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC #906662) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs #4238).

Her mother, Jonnie Carter, has spent more than 25 years searching for answers, and in that time, she learned firsthand what families truly need when a child goes missing: practical resources, emotional support, community coordination, and above all, the assurance that their child has not been forgotten. This foundation exists to provide exactly that.

Bethany’s disappearance directly inspired Tennessee’s Missing Children’s Day, observed annually on March 4, the date she went missing. The Bethany Markowski Foundation hosted its first Tennessee Missing Children’s Day Community Event on March 4, 2026, at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, Tennessee, just 90 days after incorporating as a nonprofit.

We will never stop searching. We will never give up hope.

Our Mission

To support families of missing children through comprehensive resources, guidance, and advocacy, while educating communities across Tennessee on child safety and prevention strategies.

Our Vision

A Tennessee where every family of a missing child receives immediate support, every community is equipped to keep children safe, and no missing child is ever forgotten.

What We Do

The Bethany Markowski Foundation serves families and communities through five core areas of work:

• Family Support Services — Connecting families of missing children with resources, guidance, and a community that understands what they’re going through.
• Free Child Safety Education — Providing age-appropriate safety education to children, parents, and community organizations across Tennessee at no cost.
• Community Events & Awareness — Organizing events that raise awareness for missing children, including the annual Tennessee Missing Children’s Day Community Event each March 4.
• Case Advocacy & Public Awareness — Keeping missing children’s cases visible through ongoing public advocacy, digital outreach, and community engagement.
• Community Fingerprinting & Safety Resources — Offering free fingerprinting events and safety materials to help families be prepared.

Our Values

• Hope

  We believe in hope even in the darkest moments. We never stop searching, and we never stop supporting.

• Compassion

  We meet every family where they are — without judgment, without pressure, and without strings attached.

• Action

  Caring isn’t enough. We do the work — in our community, in our state, and in every family’s corner.

• Integrity

  We operate with transparency and accountability in everything we do, from our finances to our communications.

• Community

  We believe communities protect children. We invest in building those connections in every Tennessee county we reach.

• Education

  Knowledge is protection. We provide free, accessible safety education because every child deserves to know how to stay safe.

About the Organization

The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc. was incorporated on October 24, 2025, in the State of Tennessee and received its federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in January 2026. We are based in Mount Juliet/Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee.

• EIN: 41-2321010
• Tennessee SOS Control Number: 002059646
• Status: 501(c)(3) Public Charity
• State: Tennessee
• Serving: Families across Tennessee and beyond

Donations to The Bethany Markowski Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Board of Directors

Contact Us