Ron Fitzsimmons and his sister Laura started, Alice’s Kids a non-profit in 2011 motivated by their own experiences of poverty growing up in 1960s. After their father left, their mother worked tirelessly to make food and rent- but their life was reduced to living from one pay check to the next.
The Washington Post covered his story in March 2019, where Ron said that skipping school was regular as a child because he felt “humiliated” to attend school wearing tattered clothes around his well-dressed peers.
It’s logical to assume that in most conditions of living in poverty, the basic needs of living are given more importance than the smaller, more feel-good factors. This factor is what drives the siblings to do good- to be the ones to provide for the “smaller” yet fulfilling requests of the kids that impact their self-esteem.
And if all that doesn’t move you yet, wait for the best parts. Alice’s kids grant wishes based on letters of request submitted by teachers, mentors, social workers, and helpers. The non-profit then sends gift cards to the kid’s parents so that they can make the necessary purchase. This gives a chance for the parents to feel good about their support to their children, and the children are given a chance to feel proud and look up to their parents, being unaware of the charitable exchange.
In 2023 the non-profit has been close to spending around $1000000 on children. Donations are appreciated and welcomed.
