Speaker Introduction by Mikey Silva

Grace Berbig founder and President of Letters of Love.  When Grace was young, her mother (31 years old) died of leukemia; leaving behind a husband and three young girls (ages 4, 6, & 11).  Dad sat the girls down and told them, many people are destroyed by such events.  He challenged them to bring light to others. 

Grace’s mom used to send the girls off to school with encouraging notes in the pockets and/or lunch bags.  The following year, at the age of 12 Grace’s family moved to Orono and she began loving on pediatric cancer patients at St. Jude.  She would write them encouraging cards.

At 16, Grace began Letters of Love, a program to provide emotional support to pediatric cancer patients.  She decided to see if there was interest at school for others to join her and was surprised to find 100 people showed up for the first meeting.   By the end of her junior year at Orono, Letters of Love was the largest club at Orono.  The following year she formed a 501c3 and hosted her first Letters of Love Gala.  It was the largest teen sponsored gala in Minnesota history.  In the subsequent years Letters of Love clubs organically bloomed across the United States and around the world.  Clubs now exist in middle and high schools, universities and elder care facilities.  Over 70,000 persons have participated in 101 high schools, 74 colleges, 39 states, 18 countries, sending out over 350,000 letters. 

Her personal experience, growing up in a family without disposable income,  set her on a path to create an organization that empowers people, no matter their financial situation to bring joy to others.  There is no fee for participants in Letters of Love.  The organization presently is run by 40+ youth volunteers.  Budgeting zero dollars to marketing or fundraising, the organization has grown organically and without any corporate sponsors, over 350,000 cards, at an estimated cost of $1.75/ea have found their way into the hands of kids in hospitals around the world.

Mission:

Patients: Provide emotional support for pediatric patients enduring cancer treatment and/or serious illnesses.

Students: A means for students across the US and in 18 countries to have the opportunity to build strong community and make a difference.

Letters:  Encourage our members not only to send letters to patients but also to write letters to the people they love.

Purpose: To bring a smile to people’s faces

Current Wants & Needs:

Looking for corporate sponsorship opportunities. 

Looking for a C-Suite contact at Crayola or Hallmark who assist Grace with developing a relationship.

Socials:

@LetterOfLoveGlobal

www.LettersOfLoveGlobal.com