Love Lines

“You…complete me.” & “You had me at ‘hello.’” —Jerry Maguire

“As you wish.” —The Princess Bride

“It was always you.” —Jumper

“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” —Notting Hill

We were sitting at the airport on our way to donate a GO Kart and we started to ask some of the people sitting around us at a café what they thought was the perfect love line from a movie. The quotes listed above were some of the examples that we heard. Those were pretty good ideas, but we still didn’t think they were quite right.

Yes, we’ve expressed our love for Taylor’s dream woman before (#loverhermore), but we wanted to do it again. And this time, we wanted to express how we found someone who’s been special in a unique way. This time, it’s someone who’s not only been there around the clock but been there “around the way” as well. Okay, maybe that second phrase didn’t quite make sense, but what we mean is that she’s been helping in a variety of ways. It’s not just the diversity of her contributions, but how in-depth those contributions are that made us approach strangers and spark some giggles at the airport (FYI—it was the gentleman who was able to think of the lines first. After moving to our gate, we hit the jackpot and sat next to a woman who had a bunch quotes to share).

Now you may be wondering why we’re talking about someone being so special, so we’ll explain why Sarah from Minnesota is so special. We know we’ve written some longer blog posts in the past, so we’ll try to limit this one; “try” being the key word.

We touched on it in prior blogs, in social posts and in emails, but we’re always looking for cards in a variety of languages. Thankfully, Sarah continually steps up and contacts people to help us find out how we can get cards in the specific language(s) we need. Not just the languages that we need for her local area, but also for our hospital/homes around the world. If you visit our blog post, Nope, I’m All Set, she provided those posts in Somali and Portuguese. She takes her research and updates other people that are part of the Facebook group so they can help make these cards too.

In addition, she’s gotten some of her friends and coworkers to join in and make encouraging homemade cards for our children. Since we’re not spending any money on advertising, this type of word-of-mouth advertising is essential.

Next, we’re grateful for how faithfully she helps us out. She’s been using some of her different contacts in Minnesota to connect with different hospitals and/or Ronald McDonald Houses to see if they would like to receive cards.

Sorry—we can’t really tell you about the other ways she’s helping. It’s a secret; but know that we admire her and we’re extremely thankful for her.

Based on Sarah’s overall participation, it’s clear that she’s making an impact and we’re very grateful. We can try to express our gratitude, but unfortunately even the best/most well-known LOVE LINES from classic movies can’t even convey how thankful we are and how much of an impact she’s been making on our organization and the children we reach around the world.

To see more pictures and stories, please check out our website www.cardzforkidz.org; like us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter and Instagram; visit our Google+ or LinkedIn pages! Also, check out some of our videos on YouTube!

Investing for Good

“Whoa!!!” *Heavy breathing and gasping for breath.* “I must be dreaming.” Our founder, Ike, sits up thinking to himself, “Where am I?”

He glances to the right and thinks to himself, “Okay, that looks right.” There’s the framed and signed newspaper article he received right before his surgery, #PieceofPaper. Right below that there’s the picture made by Paige, #AllDone that he used as encouragement throughout his most difficult times.* Sunsets, 2006 Coca Cola… Everything seems normal.

But the wild thoughts are still racing through his head, so he assumes he’s still dreaming. In that dream he saw the most surprising thing. It wasn’t negative necessarily, but just shocking. He saw The Capital One logo…everywhere. This renowned company was running engaging ads on TV.

Then the next day, while getting off the train, he saw this company’s ads on a billboard.

Then there were the effective letters in the mail addressed to Cardz for Kidz! 

Coming from a marketing analytics background, this all seemed realistic. Reaching a target audieince with a strong frequency using a variety of media channels is familiar. The question would be though, how do you measure which media channel led to the conversion? But that’s another story.

The oddest part of the dream was that he dreamt Capital One was COMPLETELY involved in

Cardz for Kidz!. So yes, they’ve made cards for a few years in the past. For example, looking into 2017 as a whole, Capital One made a total of 1,725 cards. Then before that in Q4 2016, one quarter alone, they made a total of 2,076 and had a total of SIX different cities join in. It’s just… this dream was too good too be true. In order to provide more information on the dream, here’s what the chart on our donation page used to look like.

If you do the math for 2018, that’s 3 quarters where we average about 7,672 cards per quarter amongst all of our groups and independent artists from around the world.

Now back to this dream. Our founder was first tossing and turning because he was running out of space in the cherished Excel chart. He wanted to keep track of all the different Capital One locations who made cards, but he was running out of space and data was overlapping. It looked something like this. 

Wow. Something like receiving packages with addresses from 107 different cities. Maybe that’s believable and you don’t think anything special of it, but let’s add this. In that dream, this renowned company worked with all those different branches to make a total of 9,192 cards in a quarter. Capital One alone broke the record for our prior top cards per quarter by over 1,000 cards, (Q2 2018 – 8,078). They’ve been quality cards too!

As of March 2019, Capital One is our top participating group and they’re leading by a long shot!

Some people may look at the chart and see that Capital One isn’t number one, but actually Capital Two. In our opinion that’s comparing them to families and artists from around the world who have been making cards for much longer. That includes Carmen in Taiwan, Karen in Australia, Diane and Karen in the USA and many more - #beyondthankful.

Now for people who follow our blog posts you know what we’re supposed to say. You know what’s missing. Here it is. It’s time. We need to be 100% Open and Honest. Cardz for Kidz! originally started off by strictly delivering cards to hospitals. From the beginning, we made it clear that we wanted to focus on small hospitals, #toosmallnosuchthing. Then we expanded past that and started to reach kids impacted by tragedies at school, #SandyHook. Those are situations people often hear about and are willing to make cards for. Next, when we began to expand, it was slightly bias and we looked into Ronald McDonald Houses since we believe it’s not only the children, but the families who are impacted as well, #familiestoo. What about the children who aren’t in a condition to rely on that type of support? Children who are either orphans, protected care and/or foster care? They could use some uplifting of spirits as well. With these locations it’s a bit hard to reach out and contact them directly when everyone has a 9-5 job, but thanks to Capital One’s increased card making in Q4 2018 we’ve been able to send over 1,000 cards to Ronald McDonald Houses around the world, as well as over 3,000 cards to different orphanages and foster homes across the country. There’s still time left, but so far in Q1 2019 here are new places that have agreed that they’d like to start receiving cards for their kids on a quartely basis based on these test shipments:

• Ronald McDonald House Lurie
• Ronald McDonald House Cleveland
• Bethany Christian Services, MI
• Bethany Christian Services, TN
• Baptist Homes for Girls
• Maryville Academy
• Edgewood Center for Children and Families
• Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund
• Free Will Baptist Children's Home of Alabama
• Albuquerque Christian Children's Home
• Methodist Children's Home Society, MI

We’re sure the list will keep growing. These locations were VERY grateful and we understand there’s no way we would have been able to test and try to expand if we didn’t have Capital One’s support in Q4 2018.

“Ok, it’s official. I’m awake.” After looking into things a bit closer, we received confirmation that they donated money to cover the shipping costs since they knew they made so many cards. It’s above and beyond in so many ways. A dream come true, but unlike in the beginning of the blog post, we’re believing that everyone’s awake and this is REALLY happening. The Capital One team has made time to work together to uplift the spirits of the children we connect with. It’s clear they’re not simply a company dedicated to promoting their cafés and credit cards, but Capital One has been INVESTING FOR GOOD causes.

#investingforgood #upliftingspirits

*she’s old enough now, but still checked with her and her mom to see if it’s okay to use her real name rather than Penelope.

To see more pictures and stories, please check out our website www.cardzforkidz.org; like us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter and Instagram; visit our LinkedIn page! Also, check out some of our videos on YouTube!

Still Awake

Sorry. That’s how we’re going to have to start off this blog post. A lot of these blog posts seem to be encouraging, and like our cards have strictly uplifting messages, based on some of the recent trends we thought we’d write a more stern blog post to make sure everyone was on the same page. Sorry.

We know that everyone is taking a bunch of time to make these cards now matter how detailed it is OR how the final product turns out. Time is time. If you think about it, whether or not your card turns out in the OVERALL Top 10 or not OR if you spend 5 minutes or 5 hours on a card, that’s time you could have spent doing 1,000,000+ other things, so we are thankful. Even with that gratefulness, we want to make sure everyone understands one of our ultimate baselines and one of the reasons we have this saved as one of the stories on our instagram page.

Not sure if you recall, but throughout the years we’ve told you a lot about our goals down the line and how that directly relates to our personal past. For example, When We Grow Up we’d love to be able to start a scholarship for kids who have been inpatients for a week or longer or have a lasting health condition. We’d love to be able to give back and make sure we’re helping remind these kids they’re special. Then we touched on it before that we’re currently mailing cards around the globe to places like Australia, Brazil and the United Kingdom, but it’d be great if other people stepped up in other areas where we weren’t able to securely ship packages from the USA to start Cardz for Kidz! extensions. Next, we also talked about how we’re working with Gamers Outreach and working on rewarding our hospitals who are taking pictures of their patients with the cards.

This way you can see where you cards are going and we can get confirmation that we still have the correct contacts. We’re starting this, but we’ll need to discuss this with the board since it’s got a long way to go before it fully grows.

One thing we’ve touched on a bit, but haven’t fully gotten into is how it would be a dream to have a partnership with Hallmark, American Greetings or another large card manufacturer. What we’re anticipating is that we’d set something up where at the end of the quarter we’d work with the judges to select the OVERALL Top 10. Then, as usual, we’d open up the poll and have people vote for their favorite three cards. The only difference would be that this time one of those large card manufacturers would then have the option to select the #1 card to produce and begin to sell and distribute around the world. Then they’d return the favor and donate some of that money back to Cardz for Kidz! and that would help us pay our future employees, scholarships and also purchase some GO Karts.

Wow. That’s one of our visions. That’s beyond what we want to be when we grow up, but that type of partnership would be a dream come true. Realistically though, all of that is still far down the road and for now we’re STILL AWAKE. Therefore, we’re going to politely remind people not to send us cards that were made by any card manufacturer since those will have to be discarded. All of our cards need to be handmade. 

#stillawake #upliftingspirits

To see more pictures and stories, please check out our website www.cardzforkidz.org; like us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter and Instagram; visit our LinkedIn page! Also, check out some of our videos on YouTube!

Shipped All Around

We’ve highlighted a couple of times when someone, or a particular group, has done something that’s never been done before. For example, we created a new verb and highlighted when another group was approaching it. We then let everyone know when a group changed our minds about being perfect, #perfectionschecklist. Schneider is one of these groups who’s done something a bit different. Something arguably even more spectacular.

What’s the keyword here: arguably or spectacular? They both play a major role. It’s not 100% agreed upon, but it’s also important that it’s spectacular. While we’re not huge into baseball, we think it’d be something like, what’s more spectacular – an in-the-park home run OR a grand slam? To do some research, we asked a few people on the train where it was quickly debated.

“Well, you have to be very fast.”

“First you’d have to get everyone on base.”

The overall skills vs. the amount of points. In our opinion, what Schneider has done is as valuable and rare as getting an ‘in-the-park grand slam.’ If there even is such a thing.

First Base. Coming to the Chicago Volunteer Expo and making cards. Although there were hundreds of nonprofits at the Chicago Volunteer Expo (CVE), many stopped by to make some cards for our kids. We’re sure the CVE team is thankful too since Schneider is helping them move up a level on our site!

Second Base. Hosting an event. These days this is a bit more common, but still we’re impressed that they stepped up and held multiple events. There are many times when people hear about our organization and plan to make cards, but don’t necessarily follow through. With Schneider we received 9 different packages within 6 months. Also, they’ve been quality cards since one of them made it into the OVERALL Top 10 and was selected by a family.

(You Are Clawsome Card)

Third Base. Coming to the hospital. A triple is very impressive in baseball, just like taking the time to travel to Lurie Children’s Hospital. Since Schneider is now a diamond participant, we set up a Cardz WITH Kidz event up for them at Lurie Children’s Hospital. They sent a team of volunteers and were able to fully engage the patients, families and staff.

 

Rounding the Base/Making it Home. What no group has done, Volunteering Behind the Scenes. The fun parts of Cardz for Kidz! are using the markers and glitter to make the encouraging cards AND potentially handing out the cards to children. The not so fun part, the behind the scenes section, is sorting through the packages and helping us count the cards that come in, proofing to make sure they’re appropriate for our kids, taking the pictures, and packaging them up. Thankfully Schneider left from their full days at work and helped us with the entire process. We were so impressed on this side, so we even had to brag about it to some of the other volunteers and board members!

(screenshot of the text so you know it’s authentic!)

Grand Slam. In-Depth Contributions. We’ve touched on all the steps they’ve done, but did not highlight how they’ve gone above and beyond during each one of those steps. For example, during one of the volunteer shifts some of their team members made a video about why they liked the Chicago Volunteer Expo. That’s never been done before. Another example is how they reached out asking all the languages we need and are going to put something together to make it easier for their team to make cards for kids in multiple languages.

In-the-Park. Speed. Like the debate about baseball on the train, we’re impressed with the speed of our volunteers at Schneider. There are some groups who take a year or more to get to the diamond level on our site. With Schneider they were able to get multiple offices to join in and get up to the diamond level within 6 months. Based on this speed and participation we’re sure they could get around the bases!

We’ll forever be impressed with how Schneider contributed in 2018 and how we feel they’re now a permanent partner. When we asked some of their volunteers about participating here’s what she said,

“I love Cardz for Kidz! I have been creating cards since it was brought to our organization. I find joy in getting creative with the creation of the cards but, I LOVE knowing that it will bring a smile to a child!”

-Hillary Hubertz!

No matter how the debate ended up on the train in terms of what’s the most impressive act in baseball, Schneider has it covered in our terms since they successfully did both. It’s no surprise, but with Schneider’s help we can say that their assistance has been SHIPPED ALL AROUND since they’ve covered all parts of our organization and are helping us grow. 

#shippedallaround #upliftingspirits

To see more pictures and stories, please check out our website www.cardzforkidz.org; like us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter and Instagram; visit our Google+ or LinkedIn pages! Also, check out some of our videos on YouTube!

Real Super Hero

After a trip to one of the “campuses,” we wanted to make it official with our signature 100% Open and Honest blog posts. But with this one, let’s switch it up. Although the board is being organized and we have all types of vital contributors, this was more of an executive decision. Therefore, this blog post will strictly be in first person, I…ke.

What’s one thing you see in common with both of these pictures?

The answer is that in both of these pictures I was surrounded by family. As touched on in the Families Too blog post, during my most trying time I thankfully had plenty of support. Based on my experience, I feel the amount of support can make a huge difference.

Originally when I was thinking of expanding and reaching more than hospitals, I figured we’d connect with more Ronald McDonald Houses. I understand that these health conditions are terribly trying on families as well, so it’s important that we encourage those patients, families and siblings too. So far it’s been working. We’ve sent over 13,000 cards to Ronald McDonald Houses around the world and have an official partnership with 20+ different locations in at least eight different countries.

Thanks to you we’re helping me reach my passion point of reaching kids and families who are going through some of their toughest times. We’re sending cards to hospitals and helping uplift the spirits of kids and families there. We’re sending cards to Ronald McDonald Houses, too, and reaching the entire family. Overall, helping accomplish my goal of reaching families in addition to the patients. In my experience as a patient, I’ve seen the utmost importance of families. Over my 20 years of volunteering here are some of my most memorable experiences:

• All Done. That seizure was the most touching. You can read that blog post to get the full story. The other day I was connecting with Paige – that’s her real name and she confirmed she still has this picture. 

• Towards the end of one of my volunteer shifts going around and delivering cards, I was explaining to a grandmother and patient that I was bringing these cards for them and hearing the woman say something like, “Thank you. Thank you. This is just what we needed right now.”
• Tired at the end of another shift dropping off cards in the NICU, I noticed on my way out a family holding up their baby to pose in the picture with their new cards.

Similar to the pictures above, the one constant with all those stories is family. Based on my EEG experience I make sure all the hospitals/homes pinky promise to deliver the cards room to room so the kids who are confined to their rooms and/or beds can be encouraged as well. That confinement can be sparked by their condition OR because they don’t have anyone to escort them down to the playroom to go get cards.

With some of the kids in the hospital, them being alone in the hospital/lacking an escort could simply be temporary similar to my first EEG, #CantComplain. Maybe their parents are at work or maybe it’s flu season and their siblings can’t come to the hospital, so their parents are with their siblings. Then again, what about some of the kids who are alone for more than a few hours? Days, months or potentially years? What about kids who are either orphans and/or recently put into the foster care system? Although they’re not necessarily a pediatric patient, we believe they deserve to be uplifted. With that in mind, I’m going to ask the team continue to reach out to hospitals around the world and make sure we consistently reach out to Ronald McDonald Houses, but would LOVE if we all worked together to help reach significantly more Foster Homes and Orphanages that you know have children who could use some cards.

During the walk around the campus it was disheartening/inspiring to hear the story of what some of these kids have gone through. For example, how there was one child who has been going in and out of care for 10+ years, how there was another child who was intentionally burned over 75% of their body, how the orphange got several new boys right before Christmas, and many other stories. We’d like to reach these kids directly if they were in happy homes, but even more so with the fact that they’re not living with family and could feel alone. 

Wow. I can’t complain. With those types of stories I realized that I don’t have to worry about us making any changes to our mission statement (#NoMoreChanges).

“Cardz for Kidz! is an organization dedicated to uplifting the spirits of hospitalized and/or traumatized children across the globe by delivering inspiring homemade cards.”

Based on one of the recent changes, I think we're covered. I can't imagine something more traumatizing than needing to be pulled and/or losing your family and living in a separate location without loved ones, no matter how nice that location is set up. Our goal will be to help contribute and make that transition as positive as possible. 

Also, not as important, but I already double checked with our friends at Gamers Outreach. They originally created their systems strictly for pediatric hospitals, but they agreed that we could donate some of those to these homes if we’d like. During the tour of Methodist Children’s Home they showed us they had one game room. We would love to make sure that all of the locations we partnered with have at least one of these gaming systems as a way to reward their children for completing their homework and other responsibilities. And don’t worry, we talked it out. For the children’s safety some of the parent’s don’t know where the children are currently located so the homes can’t take pictures of the children’s faces. How it works is that similar to our picture of the patient in Israel they could take a picture of the back of the child OR simply a picture of the staff.  

After we completed the tour of the “campus” with Erin, we were chatting about the future expansion of their program. She noted how they want to start a trade school and what they were looking to do for some of the young men who aged out of their foster program. She also explained how a lot of the large children’s hospitals can get celebrities to help them advertise and ask for donations, but it’s a lot harder for orphanages. I was told that both celebrities and private individuals are less willing to associate with these type of organizations/homes.  

It’s amazing what she’s doing and we’ll definitely make this a prime focus this year. Thinking about how those kids who are overcoming those conditions, definitely are superheroes. Then it clicked to me. Two of the top superheroes of all time, Batman and Spiderman; Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker. Sure they had a lot of things in common ranging from saving the world to special outfits, but another thing in common is how they lost both of their parents. Now, I understand sending some handmade cards isn’t going to make the next caped crusader, but I do believe that by investing our time by giving these cards and showing support/love to these kids will help inspire and, possibly help produce, a REAL “SUPER HERO” that we experience in our day to day lives, rather than something strictly in comic books. Thankfully we had a Spiderman card to drop off that day!

#realsuperhero #upliftingspirits

To see more pictures and stories, please check out our website www.cardzforkidz.org; like us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter and Instagram; visit our Google+ or LinkedIn pages! Also, check out some of our videos on YouTube!