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The Cause: The Reilly C. Bush Memorial Foundation
Valparaiso, IN--Chad and Michelle Bush prided themselves on teaching their children to give back to their community. Chad was a coach for youth sports and together the family participated in projects to rebuild low-income homes. But in the process of teaching their children to be community minded, the Bushes got a lesson themselves from their five-year-old daughter, Reilly.
Reilly was a little girl, full of life, whose sincerity was "way beyond her years," says her dad, Chad. It wasn't unusual to see her give away brand-new gifts to kids who she thought needed them more. Using her favorite word, she taught her family that life is "stupendous."When Reilly passed away unexpectedly from cardiac arrest from complications with the flu in 2007, her parents knew that they had to carry on her "life is stupendous" lesson.
Three weeks after the tragic loss of Reilly, Chad and Michelle made a commitment to give back to the community that had helped them in their time of need, and set up a foundation in Reilly's name. The Reilly C. Bush Memorial Foundation was established to carry on Reilly's spirit and to enrich the community by teaching children to help other children.
Through donations and various fundraisers such as car washes and Parent's Night Out events, Chad and Michelle have been able to raise nearly $175,000 in a year. One of the ways in which the money is being used is through the foundation's signature gift--the Stupendous Package--which is given to young girls in long-term hospital stays. The package includes an American Girl doll (Reilly's favorite toy), a blanket with Reilly's name in her handwriting embroidered on it, a "Stupendous" bracelet, and an age-appropriate book demonstrating the importance of giving to others. The foundation likes to think of the package as a "needed friend and sister during long and difficult journeys."
The foundation has other programs, including a scholarship for kids to participate in enrichment programs (like sports or dance) if their families cannot afford to send them. It also provides the local hospital, Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago, with Shadow Buddies, special dolls that help children better understand surgeries and treatments they will be receiving in the hospital.
The foundation is working on another program, Reilly's Lemonade Stand and Match Grant Program, which gives children the tools to raise $1,500 through a lemonade stand, write a Reilly grant to receive a match gift of $1,500 from the foundation, and present another deserving youth-based organization with a $3,000 donation.
The foundation's latest program is the Kid's Giving Circle, in which 20 young girls between 5 and 12 years old are taught about philanthropy, grant writing, and volunteerism and then put their lessons into practice.
Chad and Michelle are committed to creating a network of children helping children through the Reilly C. Bush Memorial Foundation to show others how truly stupendous life is when you give to others. If you would like to learn more about the foundation's great programs, please visit http://reillycbushfoundation.org
--Story submitted by Kelly Gramenz
Update: The Reilly C. Bush Foundation has expanded their charity work and has created their own philanthropy program that gives children real life non-profit experience. The unique program, entitled Philanthropy Boot Camp, will consist of ten children who will be selected as the "Board of Directors" and will run for 15 weeks. At its core, the program strives to teach the participants about the history of giving, how to research non-profits, and how to become involved in their own community. Taught by the Reilly C. Bush Foundation committee members as well as business leaders in community, the boot camp will give students the tools to create and implement successful fund-raisers and help them understand the technique behind quality marketing and advertising.
At the end of the 15-week program, children learn about grant writing and then proceed to create their own grant, advertise to local non-profits, receive entries, and choose a recipient—making it a full circle program that benefits the whole community.
Currently the pilot Philanthropy Boot Camp is being conducted at Valparaiso High School in Indiana. The program is intended to teach students age 12-18 years old the joy of giving back and can implemented at any school or non-profit agency that serves children. If you would like more information on how you can start a Philanthropy Boot Camp in your area, please visit The Reilly C. Bush Foundation's Philanthropy Boot Camp.
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