LoveShine Charity

Greetings, and welcome to LoveShine!

I recently had the honor of volunteering at the Professional Firefighter's of Wisconsin Summer Camp for Burn Injured Youth (or "Burn Camp" for short), a free, week-long summer camp for children who have sustained life-changing burn injuries. I was immediately inspired by the children there, the medical staff who were assisting them, and the other volunteers who were present. After learning about the participants' stories and the recovery process that many burn survivors experience, I was inspired to find a way to bring a bit of joy, comfort, and hope to individuals receiving treatment for burn injuries. To accomplish this goal, I created LoveShine. The logo itself and the word "Shine" quietly reflect the bright light of a flame, while the name represents the positive opportunities that can come from even the most difficult of experiences.

Hospitalizations for burn injuries can be lengthy and challenging, and simple items can be helpful for both pediatric and adult patients during this time. Bringing comfort to patients also indirectly supports the amazing medical staff members who care for these patients, as well. I am currently communicating with burn centers to learn what items would be most helpful to provide, and I have started to gather these. For example, kids and teens enjoy items such as fidgets, play dough, handheld puzzles, and craft items, and adults benefit from things like drawing materials, more complex coloring books and markers, and reading materials. I am also creating "Birthday Kits," which will consist of a "Happy Birthday" banner and simple decorations. Stay tuned to learn about other larger burn center "wish list" items we plan to fundraise for in the near future!

This GoFundMe campaign is my first fundraising effort for LoveShine, and I am very excited to get started. I have been communicating with administrators from the Burn Center at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, WI, and I am happy to announce that their patients will be our first LoveShine recipients!

Thank you for your support, and please sign up to receive updates about LoveShine by visiting our website (in development), at www.LoveShineCharity.org.

With gratitude,

Ava Sigmund

(Junior, Waunakee High School; Waunakee, WI)

Note: 100% of funds raised (aside from the small GoFundMe fee) will be used to purchase items as described above. As we have not yet obtained 501.c3 non-profit status, donations are not yet tax-deductible.