(Originally written August 2015)
Many years ago, I worked for a small advertising agency in Virginia Beach. One year we decided that, for Christmas, we would “dress up” as Santa and his helpers, and visit the children’s ward of a local hospital on Christmas Eve. The hospital had done what it could to get as many of the children home for the holiday. When we got there, we found only a few children there – those who were simply too sick to spend the holiday with their families at home. That was a big reality hit for me. I could only imagine what it was like for the kids! That moment had a profound impact on me, although I never revealed that to anyone until now.
Fast forward to March of 2011. A local business was hosting a “St. Baldrick’s Foundation for Children’s Cancer Research” fundraiser. It involved raising money and having my head shaved. Two factors lead me to participating. One was knowing that kids would benefit. The other was the “chance” to shave my head. I had wanted to shave it for years, but was too chicken to do it. I figured that it would be a good opportunity. After all, if it didn’t look good, it would grow back and I could say I did it for the kids. Turns out that it wasn’t so bad, so I’ve kept my head shaved since. Besides, it was for the kids!
Where am I going with this? RE/MAX is a “Founders Circle” corporate partner of Children’s Miracle Network. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have raised more than $5 billion—most of it $1 at a time—for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. As part of RE/MAX, I will be donating a portion of each of my sales to the Children’s Miracle Network. Again, it is for the kids! And I hope that every child will get to spend every holiday with their family.
