Moms are constantly on the move. Whether it's at home or out in the world, they have a way of making change happen.
One of the most beautiful things you can witness is when a mother and child come together to make change. Today, more moms than ever are empowering their kids to get out there and make the world a better place. Some are even starting nonprofits to get even more people in on making change happen.
These wonderful organizations all began with the bond between mothers and their children. Some even have the whole family coming together to show just how far kindness and love can take us all.
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Alexandra "Alex" Scott was just a year old when she was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma. At 3, the family was told her tumors were growing. The following year, Alex went in for a stem cell treatment. When she came out of the hospital, she had a goal: to open a lemonade stand and raise money for kids like her at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"I was a little worried that she would be disappointed, but she didn't really care what my opinion was," Liz Scott, Alex's mom, said of her daughter. "She said she was going to go ahead and do it anyway."
The first stand brought in $2,000 and the next, $15,000. Soon her story spread, and she encouraged other kids around the country to join. The family raised $1 million before Alex died at the age of 8. Today, they continue the foundation to raise money to fight childhood cancer in her honor. Liz's other children are involved in helping her keep Alex's memory alive.
Epic Experience
Nancy Ferro's son, Michael, was 23 years old when he got diagnosed with testicular cancer. She realized during the next year that there weren't many support groups for adult cancer patients that brought them out of their experience to enjoy life.
Thus Epic Experience was born. The nonprofit organizes free weeklong outdoor adventures for survivors, with activities such as paddle boarding, whitewater rafting, skiing, and horseback riding while also providing supportive and fun programs for caregivers.
Child’s Dream International
Child's Dream International was the idea of a mother and son who had conversations about how to make the world and their area a better place. Carl Grandberry V and mom Shauna Jones-Grandberry have been collecting and distributing the things less-fortunate kids want and need to help provide them a more typical childhood.
The Mother & Daughter Experience (M.A.D.E)
Autumn Page Prather and daughter Sydnei Page Everett started M.A.D.E. in honor of Mrs. Linda Marie Everett, Autumn's mother and Sydnei's grandmother, who dedicated her life to and left behind a legacy of service. Together, they pursue a mission of cultivating generational health by promoting the unyielding, sacred bond between mother and daughter through shared experiences.
Good Human Gang
The Good Human Gang is inspired by a family legacy of community service. Becky "Bex" Russell founded the Good Human Campaign in early 2016 to give back in ways that not only made the world a better place but also changed the lives of people around her. Inspired by her mother, daughter Karina Chanelle founded the Good Human Gang in 2019 to gather even more individuals looking to make the world a better place, starting in their own communities.
Lasagna Love
Lasagna Love started as the seriousness of the global health crisis set in across the US in 2020. Mom influencer Rhiannon Menn and her 3-year-old daughter looked to help families in their community. They started in their own kitchen, cooking and delivering meals to families in need in their community. It turned into a national movement as others looked to find such small, meaningful ways to make a difference in their own communities.
Dance On
Dance On began when Greg Long's son, Jimmy, began being bullied for his love of dance. The idea for the organization came from Greg's suggestion for his son to keep dancing on through the drama. They sold thousands of T-shirts and were able to create scholarships that go directly to dancers in need of financial aid. They also host master classes and events with professional male dancers who have experienced the same kind of bullying and learned how to preach acceptance through it.
Today, it's a family nonprofit that sees Jimmy's mom, Mary Long, as chief operating officer. Even sister Julianna Long has joined the team as senior vice president of media relations, making the organization a family affair.
