THE LANE THOMAS FOUNDATION, named for the child killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World resort, is helping the families of children who need organ transplants at two hospitals in Nebraska.

After their son was killed by an alligator at a Walt Disney World resort last year, Matt and Melissa Graves decided they do not want other families to have to bury their children.

They launched the Lane Thomas Foundation, named for their son, which is helping the families of children who need organ transplants at two hospitals in Nebraska, where they live.

The foundation officially launched its website Wednesday.

“We promised him at his wake — we would turn this tragedy into good for many families,” Matt Graves said Wednesday, speaking haltingly at a press conference in Omaha. “Lane loved children, and it was important to Melissa and me to select a mission where we could try to prevent other parents from knowing the pain of losing a child.”

Melissa Graves dried tears from her eyes while her husband spoke.

So far, the foundation has given funds to 16 families to help with non-medical expenses.

That could be paying rent or household bills, buying food, or paying expenses for families traveling to Omaha for surgery.

They are working with the two hospitals — Nebraska Medicine and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha.

“Our goal is for them not to worry about anything other than getting their child healthy,” Matt Graves said.

The family also wants to encourage more parents to consider pediatric organ donation if they ever lose their children at a young age.

“We believe there isn’t a better way to honor a child than by saving others,” Matt Graves said.

The foundation uses the boy’s first and middle names because of the way he would introduce himself to people — “I’m Lane Thomas, I’m two.”

The family does not have a personal history with pediatric organ transplants, but Omaha acts as a hub for children seeking transplants, said Sara Brady, a spokeswoman for the family.

“We didn’t realize when we selected pediatric transplants that the need was so big,” Matt Graves said. “Most of these families are not receiving help and have significant financial pressures that Lane’s foundation has been able to ease.”

The Graves family was staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa during their 2016 vacation. An alligator grabbed Lane while he was playing on a beach near the Seven Seas Lagoon at the resort June 14.

Matt Graves rushed into the water and tried to get the boy away from the alligator, but the animal got away.

Lane’s body was found 16 hours later and his death was ruled an accident.

Disney erected a statue near the site of his death in his memory in August.

Lane’s death happened during a difficult week in Orlando — 49 people had been fatally shot at the Pulse nightclub two days earlier, and “The Voice” singer Christina Grimmie was killed after a performance at The Plaza Live on June 10.