Madison's Happy Fun Box

Madison is six years old and this was her first year at school (kindergarten).  One of the many community focused school projects she participated in was the Lemonade War where she and 3 other girls ran a lemonade stand to raise money for an organization supporting childhood cancer research. Madison has always been the type of child that is compassionate for others and it wasn't a surprise when she came up with this idea to make a box for children in hospitals. As providence would have it, we will be making a trip to China this summer and she has the opportunity to work with one of the top hospitals in China, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center (SCMC) where children with the most challenging illness reside -- think of it as the mayo clinic for children in China. She was so excited to be able to touch their lives that she even designed her own box for this. As parents we try to be as supportive as we can, but some projects are bigger than what we can do alone. We hope that you can participate in her project, not just for the terminally ill children in China but to encourage her and other kids like her that if she has a meaningful idea, she knows there are others who would support her as well.

What is the project?

Madison’s Happy Fun Box, filled with toys and fun activities, is inspired by a 6 year old who wishes to bring smiles to terminally ill children in the SCMC in China during her summer vacation. Our goal is to hand out 300 boxes!


Who is Madison Edelle?

Madison is our daughter with big ideas and an even bigger heart. She has been inspired by her school to do more for the community she lives in and beyond. Throughout her first year as a kindergartener, she has been exposed to many outreaches and fundraising activities.


About the box: Inside and Out

The activities in the box are specially picked with fun in mind. Many terminally ill children spend their days in the hospital undergoing treatment and with little to do. Madison wanted these children to have access to toys that they might not otherwise have. We include basics like stickers, markers and boogie boards to allow a child with limited mobility to stay creative and happy.



The box itself is an important part of the gift. Madison asked that they box be white so the kids can draw on it and customize it with their name, stickers and so on. While the top of the box has Madison’s drawing on it, the front of the box has a banner for the children to write their names. The sides have meaningful activities that Madison felt were appropriate for children even from a different culture than hers. The first is a “My Family” section, allowing the child to draw a picture or glue a picture of their own family. The second side has a place called “My Grateful Journal,” allowing them to write 3 things they are grateful for or memories they are grateful for.