Frequent Flyer
Brenna Curley has an attitude of gratitude. Only eight years old, she is a lifelong Children’s patient, a frequent flyer of sorts, and our first summer story about the creative ways kids of all ages give to Children’s to help other kids. Recently, Brenna donated $1,100 to Children’s Hospital specifically for cancer research. It’s one of the largest individual donations yet to Generation Cures, our kids’ philanthropy program.
Racking up Mileage
Brenna’s a Children’s regular. As a baby, she had surgery for a brain tumor. Later, other unrelated health conditions cropped up, including a kidney condition, eye problems, hearing loss and scoliosis.
In a life full of visits to specialists in orthopedics, neurology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology and urology, Brenna is matter-of-fact and uncomplaining. She’s got places to go and people to see. She’s a whiz at Irish step dancing and chess; and she wants to be a vet one day. She loves her doctors—she’s pictured here with urologist Dr. Stuart Bauer and orthopedist Dr. Lawrence Karlin—and the feeling seems mutual. Children’s is like her second home.
Cashing in the Miles for Children’s
For her most recent birthday, Brenna asked her family to donate to the hospital instead of giving her presents.
“Brenna’s always been very aware of other patients at the hospital—little cancer patients or wheelchair-bound kids with multiple disabilities,” says her mom, Kate Curley. “She knows many children are worse off than she is.”
She approached aunts, uncles and grandparents one by one and asked them for donations. When her teacher heard about Brenna’s request, she contributed $100, bringing the total up to $1,100. Because Brenna’s grandfather died of cancer last year, she has designated her gift to Children’s cancer research program.
Brenna wrote personalized thank you cards to everyone who gave. And she cherishes her own letter of thanks from Children’s Hospital’s president, Dr. James Mandell. In a few months, she plans to start another round of fundraising for Christmas.
“I think she understands how lucky we are,” says Kate Curley.
“I just like helping other kids,” says Brenna.
Helping Kids Soar
Brenna's story is the first of three that we'll be featuring on our blog in the coming months. With school out for the summer there is no better time to share the stories of youngsters determined to help patients at Children's. Like Brenna, all the kids we treat have important things to do in their busy lives today, and have hopes and dreams for tomorrow. What do your kids do to help other kids? Check out these ideas on fun activities for the whole family to enjoy with the extra benefit of fundraising for Children's. How do you encourage philanthropy in your family? Get involved with our Generation Cures program for tips and ideas for developing young philanthropists or request a copy of our FREE 26 Steps Activity Book.
Posted June 28, 2011
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