Eight-year-old Eloise “Lulu” Peck — who loved all animals, even bugs — was one of the 27 young girls who died at Camp Mystic during the catastrophic floods in Texas Hill Country. A year later, she’s being posthumously recognized with an award from the ASPCA.

For her mom, the award is a way to honor her daughter’s legacy as well as a promise she made after she learned that her little girl had “crossed over.”

“My sister and I were talking and crying, and she looked at me in the face and she said, ‘We’re going to live for Eloise ‘Lulu’ Peck,’ ” Missy Rogers Peck, 45, tells PEOPLE. “And I said, ‘We’re going to live for Lulu.’ ”

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That moment came after floodwaters caused the Guadalupe River to rise to historic levels in the early morning hours of Independence Day, bringing death and devastation to Kerr County and the surrounding area.

In total, more than 100 people died, including Eloise and more than two dozen other young campers and counselors at the Christian sleepaway camp in Hunt, which became a symbol of the national tragedy.

Despite the weight of their collective grief, the Peck family kept their promise to honor their daughter’s legacy by launching Living for Lulu, a foundation to help animals and children in need.

“I don’t even have any words because Lulu was just such a loving and compassionate child,” she says. “She was born that way.”

Eloise with another beloved dog, Henry.Courtesy of Missy Rogers Peck
In September 2016, Missy, the owner of an event planning company, and her husband, Tim, an account executive at United Healthcare, welcomed their daughter. They named her Eloise after the main character in Kay Thompson’s classic children’s book, Eloise at the Plaza.

Two years later, Missy gave birth to their son, Holden — and right away, the siblings had an instant connection. “They just had this bond and still have this bond that can never be broken,” says Missy. “She loved him with all of her heart, truly.”

Holden, now 7, misses his big sister greatly, and finds comfort in sharing favorite memories.

“We talk about her constantly around our house,” says Missy, who sleeps with her daughter’s Taylor Swift T-shirt every night.

“We laugh about the silly things that she does and says,” she adds. “He feels connected to her.”

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These days, the Peck family likes to remember Eloise’s “silly dances,” the little tricks she’d play on her dad (he’s a big Philadelphia Eagles fan, so she’d often say that she was rooting for the Dallas Cowboys), and her tradition of seeking out what she dubbed a “midnight snack.”

Most nights, around 9 p.m., she’d venture into the kitchen with Holden, and their parents would join. It was the perfect opportunity to learn about the fun she’d had that day.

“We would laugh,” remembers Missy. “She’d do her silly dances, make her brother laugh, make her daddy laugh.”

One aspect of Eloise’s personality that her parents and brother treasure the most is her connection with animals, from family pets to the deer and horses roaming on the ranch.

After visiting a neighbor who was fostering kittens, the little girl would bring one home, hoping to keep it despite her dad’s allergy. She’d even sell lemonade outside of their house with a sign that read: “Lemonade is $5. Dogs Drink Free.”

Eloise and Holden Peck.Little Icons / Keeli Faith
One of Eloise’s best friends was their Boston terrier, Ollie, which Tim and Missy brought home after their daughter asked for a puppy two years in a row.

“She loved Ollie more than anything,” says Missy. “He slept in her room. She took care of him.”

The entire family was devastated after their beloved pet died in an accident at the ranch last April. Ollie’s passing prompted the Pecks to talk about death with their children, including a now-haunting conversation that Eloise had with her mom.

Eloise and Missy Peck at a Taylor Swift concert.Courtesy of Missy Rogers Peck
One night, Eloise told her: “Mommy, I’m not afraid of death.”

“This is coming from an eight-year-old, and of course, it scared me,” recalls Missy. “She said, ‘I know Ollie’s in heaven, and I’m not afraid.’ ”

A year after Eloise’s unexpected passing, Missy says that conversation gives her “so much peace.” She believes that her daughter is in heaven with Ollie, their other Boston terrier, Jack, as well as the other pets of family and friends.

“We say she’s the CEO of dogs in heaven,” says Missy.

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Through the foundation, the Peck family has been able to tell Eloise’s story and find purpose in their grief. There has been an “outpouring” of community support.

“It embodies who she was, who Lulu is, which was just love,” says Missy of the foundation’s work. “Love for animals, love for children in need, love for every being on this earth.”

Tim and Eloise Peck.Courtesy of Missy Rogers Peck
On Oct. 8, Eloise will be awarded the ASPCA Kid of the Year award as part of the organization’s 2026 Humane Awards at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Missy says the recognition of her daughter’s love for animals “means everything” — and as her family prepares to accept the award on her behalf, her mom says she loves to think of her daughter’s reaction to all of the attention.

“She’d be excited about it, but also completely embarrassed by all of the attention — and I love that,” says Missy, who notes that Eloise’s acts of generosity towards others didn’t come with any “strings attached.”

“She just loved with all of her heart,” says Missy, “and so I think she’ll definitely be there with us.”