MOA: We have seen and heard some amazing things about your fundraising events (I even managed to attend one last year) can you tell us more about them?
Our events are pretty fantastic. We hold an IRONFLY golf event each year that is highly exclusive and only 32 golfers attend. We sell out each year. We fly the golfers to a course for the day and the wonderful part, is that they don’t know where they are going to play golf! It is a total surprise. We have also been fortunate to have benefit concerts with Johnny Depp and KISS! Those were incredible. We also have a celebrity poker event every few years hosted by long-term supporter, Mel Gibson, joined by Gene Simmons and other celerity friends. Each year we host an annual gala to celebrate the work of our doctors and host between 300-500 attendees. Our events are big celebrations for us giving everyone an experience of what we do in the field.
MOA: Will you ever have any fund raising events in the UK?
You just tell us when! We would love to outreach into the UK and host an event. We are working on a concert series in Central America and would love to plan something there. If we have enough people willing to help us plan a fundraiser, we would certainly support and endorse it.
MOA: Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My son Reese is the inspiration behind everything I put myself into. My world was completely changed when he arrived prematurely and by the grace of God he didn’t pass away at birth, but survived 13.5 years longer than he was supposed to. He was the happiest boy with the purest soul. His birth, his bravery and his spirit is what fuels me. I am blessed to do this job and have experiences that have changed my life. It is a hard road, but it has been worth every step.
MOA: Who/What motivates you?
I have a passion for seeing progress and motion. If we are working on something, I am excited to see it take shape and go from an idea to reality, and then provide permanent benefit for people. I love working with a team of people. Everyone gets excited and contributes in their own way, adding more layers and energy to the project. We love working in new countries, with new surgical teams, trying new events, and coming up with great partnership ideas, etc. In the end, children’s lives are saved, parents are visibly relieved, they are grateful and we know all the background effort amounts to everything we had hoped and more.
MOA: Where is Mending Kids going in the next few years?
With the creation of the Training, Research and Innovation Department, Mending Kids is focusing even more on building sustainable teaching programs in the countries where we do surgical missions and training. We are fortunate to work with governments to build these programs to empower them to take care of their children long into to the future. In The Philippines for instance, we have worked in partnership for almost a decade, and now they are teaching surgical training to their own peers. It’s truly awesome!
MOA: We would love to be more involved in the UK, how can we help?
We would love to see a Mending Kids Guild or Group start that would help to spread awareness and help fundraise to provide surgeries for children. We would work with you to come up with some special ways to promote Mending Kids and give. We also have spaces on our surgical missions to come along with us. Visit mendingkids.org to find out more about volunteering!