After losing their friend Sydney to a rare brain tumor, three friends decided to take action to fund a cure for pediatric cancer! Sierra, Maddy, and Kelsey founded the Pink Polka Dots Guild and through different fundraisers and events, their charity has contributed to cancer research ever since, so far raising an amazing $700,000. As the girls headed off to college, they handed over leadership positions to the next wave of the Pink Polka Dots Guild, including Maddy’s sister, Charlotte.
Meet Charlotte – the current President of the Pink Polka Dots Guild. During the month of October on www.shopcharm-it.com, 50% of the purchase price on a selection of CHARM IT! charms will be donated to the charity in support of the mission to find a cure for cancer!
1. What is your position and responsibility at the Pink Polka Dots Guild?
I have been the President of the Pink Polka Dots Guild for the past year. Being the President means I run our quarterly meetings and represent the guild at events. On September 12th we had our main fundraiser of the year, our 9th Annual Sydney Coxon Memorial Golf Tournament and Auction. As President, I gave a speech highlighting the past 10 years of the guild’s accomplishments and introduced our featured speaker, Dr. Jim Olson. This year’s event raised approximately $70,000 for Dr. Olson’s lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
2. How did you come up with the name ‘Pink Polka Dots Guild’?
We came up with the name Pink Polka Dots because Sydney, the girl who our guild is in honor of, loved pink and polka dots. She had them all over her room.
3. Tell us one of your most rewarding experiences working with your charity.
One of my most rewarding experiences is when Dr. Jim Olson speaks at our annual golf tournament and informs us directly of where our money is going and how it is helping find cures for cancer. He and his lab are doing amazing and incredible research in finding a cure for pediatric brain tumors.
One of the most incredible things the lab has done was develop something called Tumor Paint. By using the venom of an Israeli Death Stalker Scorpion, Dr. Olson and his lab have figured out a way to make cancer cells light up in the brain. That way, they can remove more of them during surgery, and also not accidentally remove healthy cells.
4. What are the future plans for the Pink Polka Dots Guild?
Our goal when we founded almost 10 years ago, when I was only 7 and my sister and her two friends, Kelsey and Sierra were 11, was to raise a million dollars and fund a cure for kids’ cancer. Now, 10 years later, we’re 80% there! We’re always thinking of new ways to raise money. We have had 9 golf tournaments, dance parties, art sales, benefit concerts, lemonade stands, craft sales, auctions, garage sales, and more. As an original member of the guild, I have helped with a LOT of fundraising events over the past 10 years, but there are still a ton of ideas we haven’t even tried yet!
5. Do you have any advice for kids who are interested in pursuing their own charitable cause?
My advice for kids who are interested in pursuing their own charitable cause is to do it. The Pink Polka Dots Guild is a great example of how age is no barrier to raising money for a charity. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can change the world.
The Pink Polka Dots Guild stands as a shining example how girls are changing the world! An idea and determination is all it takes to start a movement and make a difference. Support the Pink Polka Dots Guild all October long at www.shopcharm-it.com.
