A teenager from Chapel Hill, NC created an idea by herself to make kids who are in hospitals around the country happy again.
15-year-old Leanne Joyce started a nonprofit organization called “Positive Impact for Kids.” This is a charity that helps children in hospitals reach a happier state of feeling and better their stay.
According to WNCN, she recently donated a Playstation 4s and $200 in gift cards to Duke Children’s Hospital through a grant from the Carolina Panthers.
Two years since she started collecting donations, Joyce has raised $29,000 dollars and has donated to 58 hospitals including one in every state.
Joyce explains how she came up with her idea when she was in the hospital for a severe heart condition.
“Knowing what it’s like to be in the hospital, I just want kids to feel as normal as they can because I know what it’s like and it’s not fun otherwise,” said Joyce.
Duke Children’s Hospital plans to install Playstations in some rooms and will give out gift cards to kids that are struggling with their stay in the hospital.
Katie Oches, a child life specialist at Duke Children’s Hospital, believes that Joyce’s organization is a great idea. “I think it’s a really neat way to be able to connect with a teenager who might be going through something completely different and Leanne has had a heart for reaching that age group,” said Oches.
Joyce is continuing to accept donations, and her goal is to raise $100,000 by the time she graduates high school in 2018.
