The middle-aged couple next to us was eaves-dropping. I didn’t mind. I was proud to be interviewing the two young women I was sitting with. I could tell the couple was an impressed as I was. Indeed, the minute I sat down with Maddie Hundley and Carley Pinsonneault, I knew I was meeting two very special young women. Maddie and Carley, two energetic freshman at Coronado High School, are taking the natural creativity of teenagers and funneling it into making a real difference for teenagers battling cancer at Rady Children’s Hospital.
Maddie and Carley created “Threads for Love” last year as eighth-graders at Coronado Middle School. Both girls credit Coach Tony at the Middle School for encouraging them and supporting their dreams. It started simply enough. Carley was babysitting for a Coronado family and her chargers begged her to make friendship bracelets for them. Being a resourceful employee, Carley started bringing thread to make the bracelets every time, she was asked to babysit. As any parent of girls of fourth grade knows, friendship bracelets are bracelets made of three, four, or five pieces soft, thin string woven together. Usually girls, but not always, love to make this homespun piece of jewelry. Carley realized that something that came naturally to her and her peer-group, was also in high demand.
With the business acumen as much any contestant on Shark Tank, Carely realized that their was money to be made. Connecting with her friend Maddie, the girls set about created their own business in friendship bracelets. Infused with compassion, they directed their efforts toward young people suffering in ways they couldn’t image – young people fighting cancer – specifically the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady’s Children’s Hospital.
Maddie and Carley explained how the demand for the bracelets is became so strong that they needed help from their friend groups. Not surprisingly, other middle schoolers were joyfully willing to help with their commitment to young people with cancer and signed up to help make bracelets. Carley and Maddie were able to step back and run the logistics of their now thriving non-profit.
I asked Carley and Maddie about the greatest lesson they have learned from their leadership of Threads4Love and their answer was insightful. They spoke like true entrepreneurs who have transitioned from created a start up to a major corporation. They said that, at first, it had been a challenge coordinating their team, organizing sell times and locations, and facilitating the relationship with Rady Children’s Hospital.
Rady Children Hospital contact for fundraising, Tanya Eraca, the corporate and communication development officer, met with the girls at the hospital. Tanya had this to say:
Carle’s mom had this to say:
Coach Tony has this to say:
