Abby's Light Memorial Foundation

As we collect funds for our first large scale SELLOUT event, Bag Bingo – Kate Spade Edition, we find the foundation comfortably funded for our current programs. Gifts for Hospitalized Children is a huge success. So many smiles. Doylestown Hospital is the perfect choice for this program. These children are not terribly sick so it makes visits for the foundation , the children and their families relaxed and appreciative. Our program Abby’s AOK, which gives out acts of kindness in the form of $20.00 gift cards to Justice Clothing store shoppers (Tweens) continues. We have a friend who will be giving some out in Colorado shortly. So with the influx of money we will be thinking about additional programs that are through the eyes of our Abby. For now we are going back to giving out Starbucks gift cards on car windshields. This had a profound impact on some people and one of those people helps the foundation tremendously. A big thank you to AOK recipient Siobhan Jones for all her help. So additional programs are being considered and we will bring them to light when we know they will be implemented. Attempts have been made to get one started but so far possible benefactors have not responded. We will keep pushing forward. Thank you all for your support and interest in the Abby’s Light Foundation.

A trifecta! And yes it was perfect. Three young ladies today. Art kits, Play Doh Princess, Craft Beads and Puzzles. Three big smiles, two gasps of excitement and one hug. I wish donors could come to witness the joy in their faces but due to hospital security protocols, it’s just not possible. So I will do my best to describe what happens. It’s all because of your donations so thank you!!

The text came in. A little girl was supposed to have a birthday party tomorrow but she will be in the hospital instead. I already planned for this situation in my mind. Now of course age makes a difference on the pouting scale. This one was probably a little too young to make the needle go very high. Either way the foundation was ready to make this a special visit. Mom suggested the Lucky Ducks game (most parents know this one). I was dismayed to find my usual places didn’t have it. I even looked at Amazon which would be a timing issue but they didn’t have it in stock either. If Amazon doesn’t have it, that must be game over! I threw a hail mary and checked Kmart. They had it! So I got it along with a princess doll and a stuffed puppy. Also included were the four balloons. Lesson learned, no latex balloons in the hospital. With one of the foundation’s directors Marion Mass and plenty of Hospital staff, this girl had a mini party. She just woke up from a nap so she was somewhat overwhelmed by the strangers. After a bit, she smiled and became interested in her Lucky Ducks game and the princess non latex balloon. A complete success all around! We met some very nice family new to the area and grandma who is not from the area. Abby keeps showing the way and makes a difference one child at a time.

The foundation has supported 15 children this year for the Groveland Giving Tree. This was an event close to Abby’s heart as she loved to go shopping for a gift or two for children in need. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to double the amount of children who receive gifts. Either way Abby is proud! 

The program Gifts for Hospitalized Children can sort of be like answering the Bat Phone. While I’m not a superhero out to save someone’s life, I realize a child has asked for something while in the hospital. In many cases they are young and a little scared. For this reason, if I am not busy, I feel I need to act. This afternoon I had a headache. Nothing terrible but enough to want to lay down and take a nap. I get in bed and open my iPad before going to sleep to check my messages. The opening screen tells me my cell phone received a call from the hospital. The voicemail to that call would be in my car with the cell phone. It was very tempting to just stay in bed and try and deal with this later. I thought about the program and the mission. I went to the car and listened to the voicemail. A little boy who wanted Star Wars Legos. What would Abby say? “Dad let’s go and get some legos! Come on! “Abby, I have a headache let’s wait.” “But dad, he’s in the hospital and probably sad.”

Abby spoke and I listened. So off to Toys R Us and to the hospital. Headache and all. When I arrived I met this wonderful little boy with a smile from ear to ear and his first words were “Thank you.” I said “thank you? You don’t even know what I’m here for? You my friend have work to do. You have to get these Legos built as soon as possible!” He is such a nice kid. His mom loved the gifts and she hugged me in tears. I knew what her tears meant and no words needed to be spoken. Then the kicker. The little boy reached out with his arms, one with an IV in it and asked for a hug. We hugged and he said “Thank you so much.” I told him to get well soon and get out of here. A nice reward for getting out of bed for a “headache nap.”

Nothing can replace Abby. A hole in my heart that can only be taped over. The foundation is bigger than myself. Sometimes however I get the opportunity to use the foundation for my own benefit and listen to Abby to make the right choice, making that tape just a little stronger. Thank you to all the donors that have given me this opportunity.

Doylestown Health received a substantial donation this week for their Pediatric Unit. We are proud to have learned the foundation was mentioned in the donation letter as part of the positive experience the child had while in the hospital. The vision has always been simply “Making Children Smile.” This way of thinking stems from our daughter Abby. We knew she had the ability to make her friends smile through her generosity. That’s why we continue her mission as she would if she were here today. One child at a time and often is the way we do it. Now it’s nice to know in some small role, Abby has influenced a generous person to help a hospital reach out to the community and help children in times of health needs. Together, the Abby’s Light Memorial Foundation and Doylestown Health move forward on the same path making children happy and healthy.

In addition the foundation also received a very nice donation from the same generous donor.

Another Special request today. Beanie Boos. I said what? Yes Beanie Boos. I found out where to go. We budget $30.00 per gift. One of these 16″ monsters was $34.95. Close enough! Then the sales clerk says “you can buy another one for just $5.00!” As far as the foundation is concerned, two is better than one when you are sick in the hospital. A girl asks for Beanie Boos, the foundation provides. Big time!

More than 20,000 students will be exposed to the awareness of random acts of kindness on Abby’s birthday. Students will be encouraged to perform RAK not just on that day but throughout their lifetime. What you see to the left is a 13×19 inch poster that will be displayed in all schools. Students will be encouraged to put in pen what they have done for RAKD.

CB Cares Educational Foundation is a community coalition of individuals, businesses, and agencies, whose goal is to promote positive values, attitudes, and behaviors, particularly in our community’s youth. The Abby’s Light Memorial Foundation is proud to align with such a hard working organization.

Between the students, the school district staff and CB Cares, kindness awareness is getting a big boost in the Central Bucks community and as these things go, it should have a ripple effect to many other areas as well.

Part of Abby’s legacy as well as many children that pass, is kindness. Why is this? Are all these kids that left us kind? The answer, in most cases, is yes. I speak directly for many bereaved parents and indirectly for millions. Most children, especially around Abby’s age are kind hearted souls. Abby was a genuinely kind hearted girl. She constantly brought her teachers flowers. She would give up a possession for a friend just to make them happy. Would this last? I can’t answer that but I like to think it would be yes.  Abby is our forever ten year old daughter. There are many Abby’s that have passed. As parents, we want to see kindness. We want a more peaceful life. We want this to honor our children. Tomorrow, my county, Bucks County, will proclaim Abby’s birthday for the second year, Random Acts of Kindness Day. The goal of the Abby’s Light Memorial Foundation is to do this all year. We have been doing RAK for quite awhile. Hundreds, if not thousands of people have performed RAK just because they knew Abby lived. Abby’s birthday is approaching on November 19th and RAK is picking up steam. Abby’s school district, Central Bucks, will be taking part. A big thanks to one of our Directors, Marion Mass, for facilitating this. Kindness is spreading. What will you do?

Dear Central Bucks District Wellness Representatives, 

Part of good health is contributing in an altruistic way in the world around you.  Central Bucks Students have the opportunity to feel empowered on Bucks County’s Official Random Act of Kindness Day, (RAKD) held annually on November 19.  RAKD is a day in honor of Abby Schumer, a former CB student who tragically lost her life to a brain tumor in 2012 at the age of 10.  Abby believed in doing small kind things for teachers, friends, and others in her life.   

Abby’s Home schools of Groveland and Tohickon are making RAKD a special day by encouraging students to perform a RAK sometime throughout the Day.  At Tohickon, students will receive a sticker in the morning and will be told to perform a RAK and wear their sticker proudly, once they have done so. (kind of like “I voted” badges) At Groveland the staff is going to talk about RAKD as a group and each classroom teacher will discuss the day and encourage participation with their class.  Groveland will promote RAK all week on morning announcements.   Other schools might consider placing posters (Mike Schumer, President of Abby’s Light Foundation, is happy to provide each CB school with promotional posters and other printed material)  in the school’s hallways, and introducing the idea on morning announcements, or having the high school key clubs promote awareness of this day. What might your school do to start a wave of kindness???? 

What a special way to kick off Thanksgiving week, and a simple beautiful way to promote wellness among our staff and students.  

Corrine Sikora, Supervisor of Student Services, Central Bucks School District.