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MANSFIELD - Alexa Latteo was just shy of her 20th birthday when she died in a car accident last summer, leaving her family devastated.

Now, as the one-year anniversary of the tragedy approaches, the family is determined to celebrate her life by making a positive impact on the local community, as she herself always tried to do.

The family recently established the Alexa Latteo-Holmes Bright Smile Foundation through the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts. The foundation, which has already raised over $25,000, plans to give out scholarships to area students, as well as pay for other projects in the community.

Forming the foundation has given the family an outlet for their grief, letting them funnel their attention towards helping those around in their community.

"We wanted to something to honor our daughter in a positive way," said Tina Holmes, Latteo's mother. "I love being able to put my energy to use in a positive way." "I want her spirit to make a difference in people's lives, the way she did in life," Holmes said.

Latteo, the daughter of Tina and her husband Peter Holmes, was killed last July when a car she was driving crashed head-on into a tree on Route 1 in Wrentham. Passenger Debra Davis, of Milton, also died in the accident, while another passenger, Nina Houlihan, of Norton, was seriously injured.

In addition to her parents, she left four brothers and a sister, who was born shortly after Alexa's death.

In the months since the accident, the family has remained open with their emotions, keeping photographs of Alexa around the house and talking about their daughter and sister whenever possible.

"We're very open and spiritual," Holmes said. "She's very much a part of our lives."

Latteo was set to begin her junior year at Bridgewater State College, where she was majoring in elementary education. The foundation plans to award scholarships, focusing on education students from Mansfield, where the family lives, and Norton, where Latteo graduated from Norton High School in 2006.

"She wanted to be a teacher, she loved working with kids," Holmes said. "We want to make sure others have that opportunity."

The foundation will also fund community service projects for area children and teens, including a trip planned for this summer from the Hockomock YMCA to Martha's Vineyard, a place Latteo always held close to her heart.

"She loved Martha's Vineyard," Holmes said. "We wanted to give other children the chance to see such a beautiful place in her memory."

To raise money for these projects, the foundation will hold its first fundraiser, a Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise, on Saturday, Aug. 15. The cruise will depart from Rowes Wharf in Boston at 6:30 p.m. "We wanted to do something really special for her," Holmes said of the cruise.

Tickets for the 21-plus event are $100 and must be purchased by August 5. For more information, or to buy tickets, call Holmes at 774-719-2490 or the Community Foundation at 508-996-8253.

While the harbor cruise will just be for adults, Holmes said the foundation will schedule future fundraisers for the whole family.

The Community Foundation provides families, like Latteo's, and other charitable funds with an easier way to raise and disperse donations than if they chose to go it alone. The organization handles many of the administrative tasks and helps these funds find the best destinations for their donations and scholarships.