Spotlight: 26 Steps: Family philanthropy at Children's
Children's Hospital Boston is more than just the premier place for children's health. Through 26 Steps, the hospital's new family philanthropy program, it's also becoming the resource for kids who want to make the world a better place—kids like Jenny Joyal and Elizabeth Olson.
Eighth graders at Brookline's Runkle School, Jenny and Elizabeth wanted to support Rebecca Kagle, their classmate who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. Rebecca and her two brothers, Oliver and Alexander, are triplets, and the family lost their mother to cancer five years ago. "We had to do something to rally for her in a special way," says Jenny. "The popularity of the Lance Armstrong fundraising bracelets made us think it would be a fun way to raise money in Rebecca's honor."
The girls got started by engaging their class, who voted on the color and engraved message. Each student in the class got 40 white ’ÄòHope' bracelets to sell for $2 each, but ultimately the spring sales campaign involved the hands and hearts of students throughout the school. "We organized it democratically, got people inspired and felt like we really accomplished something," says Jenny. "Our original goal was $1,000, and we doubled it!" adds Elizabeth
Their $2,000 gift will support Children's 7 West Resource Room, where computers provide entertainment for hospitalized kids’Äîa place where Rebecca spent so much time as a patient.
Jenny and Elizabeth's good work is a perfect example of Children's 26 Steps program in action. The program is named in memory of Katie Lynch, a former Children's employee and lifelong Children's patient who undertook an enormous physical challenge’Äîwalking 26 feet at the 2001 Boston Marathon’Äîto raise money for the hospital she loved. Katie died in 2002, but her courage and generosity, and her personal motto, "small but powerful," symbolize what even the smallest or youngest can accomplish, step by step, when it comes to giving.
Children's 26 Steps program helps parents and grandparents nurture the next generation of philanthropists, developing habits of independence, kindness and responsibility. Visit www.childrenshospital.org/26steps for stories about other kids making a difference, advice on how kids can volunteer and fundraise for Children's or other worthy causes, news and reports about special events, a book list and more.
For more information on family philanthropy and the 26 Steps program, contact Director of Planned Giving Laureen Cahalane at (617) 355-8062 or laureen.cahalane@chtrust.org.
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