Learning the value of giving
When asked why she decided to donate to SickKids for her birthday, Skylar, age 9, shares that “people at SickKids need the money more than I do.” Her brother, 11-year-old Spencer, echoes that sentiment, adding “lots of people need support, whether it is a child who is sick in the hospital or a person homeless on the street. It is good for kids to be able to help out others who are in need.”Skylar and Spencer’s mother, Alexis, couldn’t be prouder of her children for choosing to give to charity for their birthday.
“It is my kids who are driving the desire to give,” said Alexis. “Every year as their birthdays approach, we sit down and talk about gift ideas. Two years ago, both kids decided that they wanted to give a charitable donation as part of their birthday present.”
In order to achieve this, Skylar and Spencer signed up to host an ECHOage birthday party. Through ECHOage, kids get to choose a gift that they truly want as well as a charity that they would like to give a donation to. Every year, Skylar and Spencer review all the charities listed on the ECHOage website, and every year they pick SickKids as their charity to support.
"Giving back makes you feel good."
“My kids love what I do as a job and are always finding a way to support SickKids, whether it is through ECHOage or just raising awareness by talking about what I do as a job and what SickKids does,” said Alexis. “When my kids host an ECHOage birthday party, it makes the donation a little more real for them because they know I work directly with the kids and the families that they are helping when they give that donation.”
As a Child Life Specialist, Alexis looks after the psycho and social well-being of kids and their families while they are being treated in hospital. It is a role that she absolutely loves and truly believes she was “put on this earth to do.”
Originally, Alexis had planned to become an educator, but after learning what a Child Life Specialist was, she thought the role would be a perfect fit for her. Not only did it encompass her passion to educate, but it also provided her with an opportunity to give back to a place that played a major part in her life at a young age.
“I am a sibling of a SickKids kid,” said Alexis. “My brother was diagnosed with a cardiac condition and passed away at the age of 15. I grew up living what most of the families I work with now are experiencing. I can relate to what they are going through.”
“SickKids is such a special place for me and I feel so honoured to be able to give back to patients and families. It has become a home away from home for me. I’ve been here 18 years now and, every day, I feel like I am giving a donation of myself.”
This makes Skylar and Spencer’s decision to give back even more special for Alexis. They are learning and living the value of giving that has become so engrained in Alexis’ day-to-day life.
“I am so pleased that my kids are learning these valuable life lessons at a young age. And I know it makes my kids so proud to be able to give back.”
Spencer couldn’t agree more.
“Giving back makes you feel good. And being able to give something to the kids who my mom works with every day, that is important to me.”
If you would like to learn more about ECHOage and how you can donate to SickKids at your child’s next birthday party, please visit our information page or go directly to http://echoage.com/.
