ABOUT DAWNING PR
Dawning Public Relations specializes in the development and implementation of public relations, community relations, social media management and marketing campaigns for everyone from the small independent business owner to nationwide brands with storefronts from coast to coast.
Founded in 2013 by Kendra Riley, the boutique firm boasts over 300 years of combined experience and long-standing media contacts, which have helped take clientele and their businesses to the next level of exposure within their target demographics.
MEET FOUNDER KENDRA RILEY
Kendra founded Dawning Public Relations in 2013 with a focus on helping brands across the nation elevate their exposure through comprehensive communications campaigns on a local, national and international level. She has been practicing public relations, marketing, community relations and social media management in Arizona for over 20 years and has grown her business to help clientele in a wide variety of industries.
She has been an active member of the Executives’ Association of Greater Phoenix since 2019 and is currently on the Board of Directors, a board member of The Armer Foundation for Kids since 2021 and a committee member of the Phoenix Heart Ball benefiting the American Heart Association of Arizona from 2020-2024. While she has helped 50+ non-profits grow their presence, it’s the rare disease community that has become her passion.
After two of her three daughters were diagnosed with an extremely rare disease called Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) at the height of the pandemic in 2020, their family moved to Italy where their newborn was able to receive a life-saving treatment. Since then, has helped multiple families across the nation get the same life-saving treatment as her daughter, and was instrumental in also getting it FDA approved. Now a rare disease advocate for MLD specifically, her family has been the inspiration of new research in the newborn screening space, she has spoken at a Congressional Briefing in Washington D.C., inspired the creation of Right to Try 2.0 which she has now helped pass in 10+ states and she continues to speak about her family’s story on national and international stages.
SEE KENDRA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN THE NEWS
Kendra Riley’s Story
Four years ago, my daughter Olivia was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive genetic disorder that attacks the brain and nervous system. She was rapidly losing the ability to walk and talk, and doctors told us that the disease was progressive, meaning Olivia’s condition would continue to worsen and she would eventually need hospice care. She was not yet 2 years old.
A Rare Disease and My Children’s Right to Try
While reading Judy Stecker’s “The FDA Could Help Save My Son From a Rare Disease” (op-ed, Feb. 28), I couldn’t stop thinking about my own children’s battle against a rare disease—and the Food and Drug Administration red tape that kept effective treatment an ocean away.
A lifesaving therapy for children with a rare disease is now the world’s most expensive drug, raising questions about access
A new gene therapy for the fatal genetic disorder metachromatic leukodystrophy, or MLD, will carry a wholesale price of $4.25 million, its manufacturer announced Wednesday, making it the world’s most expensive medicine.
My daughter has a rare disease. We shouldn’t have had to leave the US to save her life.
Four years ago, my daughter Olivia was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive genetic disorder that attacks the brain and nervous system. She was rapidly losing the ability to walk and talk, and doctors told us that the disease was progressive, meaning Olivia’s condition would continue to worsen and she would eventually need hospice care.
FDA approves new gene therapy treatment for kids priced at $4.25 million
Kendra Riley is a mother of three girls, two of whom — Olivia and Keira — were diagnosed with MLD. While Keira was fortunate to receive the gene therapy in Italy before showing symptoms, it was too late for Olivia, who is currently in hospice care.
Scottsdale publicist pushes for expanded newborn screening after personal experience
When Scottsdale publicist Kendra Riley looks back on 2025, she’ll see more than client wins and business milestones. For her, this has been a year about momentum — for both her growing company and a cause that’s deeply personal.
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