Hello everyone,

My name is Sophia Meisterling, and my friend Memphis Silveira and I are both juniors at the University of Miami. We have recently started a new student-led chapter of the national nonprofit organization Once Upon a Room here in Miami, partnering with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Coral Terrace, Florida.

Our mission is simple yet powerful: to brighten the lives of children in long-term hospital care who are facing sustained illness and disease. We do this by transforming their hospital rooms into spaces of comfort and joy, with personalized bedding, room décor, toys, and more. These small touches bring warmth, personality, and hope into what can otherwise be a dark and difficult time.

The money that you do graciously donate will go to Once Upon a Room to buy decorations for the children. The impact of this simple act on both the children and their loved ones is truly immeasurable — a reminder that even in the hardest moments, they are not alone, and that joy can exist alongside pain.

To make this dream a reality, we are seeking to raise $30,000 to fund these room transformations and give hospitalized children a brighter, more comforting environment. Any amount you contribute makes a difference, and we are deeply grateful for your generosity. On behalf of my team and the children whose lives we hope to touch, thank you. We are incredibly excited about this project and cannot wait to bring Once Upon a Room to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital — with your help.