I met Kevin Kelly, a fellow social media marketer and coffee-head about a year ago. Similar to most of my ‘online relationships,’ we met through Twitter – oh how I love Twitter.
During this time I came to know about Kevin and his large (in numbers and height) family, and I learned he has a terminally ill nephew with Cystic Fibrosis. This winter Kevin posted a few pictures of other children with CF asking people to send them pictures of animals or Christmas cards to make them smile. And the posts made me think.
Think about the sheer number of people online, in social communities, around the world who are able to help. I was looking for a nonprofit to get involved with that would combine with my wacky schedule. I felt strongly this could be it. I approached Kevin and we have had our heads together every since.
The Share4Kids Foundation is dedicated to granting the last wishes of terminally ill children through the power of social media sharing. We want to harness the Internet and those with large tribes to help us spread these last wishes, to make the last days of these children’s lives full of cheer. We cannot stop real life, but we can make a difference and put a smile on a child’s face. And I think that’s pretty awesome.
Kian, our second child with the Share4Kids Foundation has Cystic Fibrosis. Kian loves trains and his wish is to have people send him pictures of trains whenever they see them. Although we just posted about Kian yesterday, the response has already been overwhelming. Lots of pictures are coming in – so many that his parents have promised to make a book for Kian so he can look through them whenever he wants.
Kian.
I can’t explain how excited and humbled I am to be given the opportunity to help make these children smile. But I know that it will be the love of many who will be responsible for his happiness.
And I am very fortunate to be partnered with someone who is so passionate and hands on about making this work. Kevin has charged ahead since the first conversation and came to meet me (gasp, in person!) in NYC so we could begin to lay the foundation for a bright future.
I will be periodically sharing our children with you through my blog and keeping readers informed of our progress. If you want to help, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter or share my blog posts and help grant the last wishes of these children.
Thank you, in advance.