Comments for a Cause.
THE best thing I could ever do on It’s Just Life is our monthly Comments for a Cause.
THE BEST THING.
Thank you to all of my readers who have faithfully supported my monthly Comments for a Cause since April 2011. That is a lot of causes, isn’t it? One day when I am feeling really ambitious I will post all of the causes we have supported in a post. But not today.
Image from Highland Youth Garden
Today I want to give a shout out to our cause for July 2017 which was the Highland Youth Garden. My friend Bill Kline is an integral part of the Highland Youth Garden that is located in Columbus, Ohio. If you click here you can read the post and see a video that will share more about what this great place does for children in the area.
Kids grab my heart every single time and I am thrilled that we are able to make a donation of $200 to the Highland Youth Garden as a result of the comments on the blog this month. Anytime we can donate to a worthy cause that helps kids it is a good day.
When we lived in Mooresville, NC from 1998 – 2006 I had the pleasure of listening to a radio show on a local Charlotte radio station with a morning team called Ace and TJ. They started my mornings off right with music, news and some pretty funny conversations. When I drove to work they were what I listened to and I loved being a part of their “radio family”.
Fast forward a bit and TJ and his family attended the church that our family attended so I got to see him outside of his radio personality. What I did know without a fact was that he and Ace had huge hearts when it came to helping others. Which is what leads me to the Comments for a Cause recipient for August 2017. I don’t know why I waited so long to feature them –it’s a no brainer.
Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids was started in 2000 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a magical, all expense paid, 5 day experience at Walt Disney World for children between the ages of 5-12 who are terminally ill or chronically disabled and their immediate family. Yes, you read the correctly. What an amazing gift to these children and families.
I followed along on the radio many years as they raised money and took children to a magical place complete with caregivers and family members. I cried along with them as the children shared in the excitement of the magic that happens at Disney World. It is a recipe for wonderfulness.
Image courtesy of Ace and Tj’s Grin Kids
What is this all about? Read a little bit more about their mission as stated on their website:
The charity was designed to enhance the lives of terminally ill and chronically disabled children between the ages of 5 through 12 and live within Ace & TJ’s radio listening area. Our 501(c)(3) charity takes the children & their entire family on a once in a life time trip to Disney World. Over the years we have taken over 400 children and their families on a 5 day all-expense paid vacation including air travel, ground transportation, Disney Park Hopper passes, meals, hotel rooms at a Disney Resort, Meet & Greet with some of the famous Disney Characters and Disney Dollars for souvenirs. Grin Kids is funded exclusively by listener donations, fundraising events and corporate donations. Every dollar helps in making this magical vacation possible for children who have only dreamed of a vacation to the Happiest Place On Earth!. The name of the organization comes from Ace & TJ’s motto on their morning show, “You Grin, You’re In!”
Ace and TJ are a bright spot in our world. What they are doing to raise money and support these children and their families is beyond extraordinary and I am thrilled to highlight them this month as our Comments for a Cause recipient. If you are new to It’s Just Life a little explanation of how it works. Each comment made during the month means a 50 cent donation to Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids. We cap our donation at $500 and I am still waiting to reach that magic number so maybe this is the month. Comment on ANY post –it does not have to be this particular post. I usually have 5 posts a week so it is easy to just bookmark or subscribe to get my posts by email (look on the sidebar) or follow me on Facebook and Twitter (also in sidebar) to see my posts. Share with your friends.
If you are coming here because of your connection with Grin Kids I would love to read your comments about what this organization means to you. I love to read those stories and share the joy. So please, stop by often, comment on any post I have written in the past or in the month to come and it will all count towards our end of the month donation.
Please follow Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids on their different social media outlets that I will link to below the video.
Oh and the video? I DARE you to watch it and not tear up a bit. It makes my heart so happy. Thank you, Ace and TJ, for your dedication to making the world a little bit brighter for so many.
30 Comments
Leave a commentWow! What a great choice for Comments for a Cause. I will really try not to miss a post, even though I´ll be away for part of August. This one tugs at my heart strings. <3
I don’t know why it took me so long to highlight them! It really is an amazing effort and all the memories they make happen for these kids and families. So amazing and so worthy of our donation. Thank you for your dedication to stopping by and commenting. It means the world to me.
What a great thing! I can hardly type for the tears in my eyes. BUT, it’s all the smiles on the kids faces that are important!
Exactly. These trips are so amazing in so many ways. I can not even begin to think about the logistics involved but this team does it with grace and love every single time.
Awesome choice for this month! 🙂
Thanks so much! I am excited. Very excited!
What a wonderful organization to give to.
I agree, Judie! I am thrilled to highlight them and will try to keep the posts coming and interesting so folks will stop by and leave a comment. 🙂
Oh, Beth Ann, you always find such wonderful causes to support. I also appreciate the education factor, learning about these giving groups.
This is really a wonderful organization that started out small and grew. These guys know how to put smiles on the faces of kids and I absolutely love how passionate they are about their mission with Grin Kids. Thanks as always for your support.
Great cause and you know how I love any cause that supports youth too!
All your causes are amazing but this one truly is beautiful. I hope you’ll get lots and lots of comments. xoxo
Thanks, Susi. This one is really amazing!
My family was chosen to atten the 2015 Grin Kids trip to Disney. It is absolutely amazing the magic that they make happen on these trips. Ace &TJ interact with those kids and play with them and bring so many smiles to their faces as well as their family members. I can’t say enough good things about this organization and how wonderful it is and how really caring these guys are. We made some new life long friends from our trip. Thanks Ace & TJ for all that you do to give these kids and their families 5 days of pure magic.
Thank you Claudia for taking time out of your day to stop by, read and leave a comment. Everyone I know that knows anything about this organization just raves about all the great things that they do and the lifelong friendships that are made. It sounds like your family was part of the magic and I am so glad to read your story. Please come back and comment all month long to help raise money! Great to “meet” you.
Oh my goodness what this means to us!!! Grin Kids is more than what it is made out to be. As a 2016 Grin Kid family, we have had the opportunity to “grow” our family. We now have and extended Grin Kid family that gets together to celebrate birthdays, ups, downs, losses, and wins! We are doing ALL we can to get back because I miss the smiles our Grin Kid and our other children had…..as well as mine and my husbands. What a magical experience we were apart and that you are helping make happen! Hugs to you and ALL involved <3
Bobbi, Thank YOU so much for taking the time to stop by It’s Just Life and read and leave a comment. You are exactly the type of person who understands what this charity is all about. It is about FAMILY! Thank you for sharing your connection and hope to see you back here leaving comments on any post this month. Thanks again!
My grandson has been choosen for Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids for 2017.Thank you so much for recognizing this wonderful organization and God Bless!
Charlotte, Thank YOU so much for taking the time to stop by and tell me about your grandson. I am so excited for him and your family. I know this will be a trip of a lifetime.
My son was chosen this year as a Grin Kid and I can NOT tell you how excited he is and what a blessing this trip is for our family!!!
Katie–thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and leave comment. I am thrilled to be highlighting Grin Kids this month and am so excited for your son and your family. Your trip is going to be epic!
Congratulations and welcome to the Grin Kids family. You will have a most magical trip!!! I’m excited for you!!
Another worthy cause as per usual! Your dedication is inspirational. Keep up the good work sister!
Thanks so much!
What an incredible organization. Every month I mean to come by and comment and see what organization you’re spotlighting – I finally made it!! <3 I love this series so.
[…] So here it is. Click on the link below and it will take you right to the post. Don’t forget to leave a comment. Each comment this month means a 50 cent donation to Grin Kids. (You can read all about that here.) […]
[…] Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to leave a comment for our Comments for a Cause – Grin Kids. […]
My daughter is one of the 2016 Grin Kids. When they say magic, they mean MAGIC. From the call telling us we were selected, to the meal after the flight back, every single detail is thought of. Heather is the little girl in the middle of the video, with sunglasses on wearing a princess dress with her Moosie.
We did pay it forward for this year’s group, and plan on continuing to do so as long as we’re able.
Oh my goodness–she is adorable!!! I am so glad that your family got to experience the magic. What a blessing and how wonderful to be able to pay it forward. Thanks for stopping by!
[…] and their love of these children and their families for 17 years and show no signs of stopping. Please click here to read the original post about their wonderful […]