Send Carissa and The Everybody Club to Congress

My name is Linda Hayen, and I’m asking for your help in sending Carissa’s message to our elected leaders in Washington.

Who is Carissa and what is her message? Let me explain.

Carissa was my daughter. When she was young, she started a club called the Everybody Club. The members were her dolls and stuffed animals, the family cat, and her brothers, one of whom had severe disabilities and was unable to walk or speak. She was passionate about the idea that everybody should feel welcomed and valued.

In the spring of 2000, at the age of 16, Carissa went on a school trip to Washington, D.C. When she arrived home, I asked her, half-jokingly, if she wanted to become a politician. Her answer was an immediate and very serious “Yes.” Fascinated by what she had seen on this trip, she was determined to work within our democratic government to build a world in which we would all be included.

Two months later Carissa died in a car accident.

In those awful years after her death, I often thought about Carissa’s club and her dream of a kinder world. Then, in 2012, I was very fortunate to meet a children’s book author, Nancy Loewen. Together we created a children’s book in Carissa’s honor, called, you guessed it, The Everybody Club. We published the book on our own in 2021, and in 2024 it was relaunched by children’s book publisher Amicus Ink.

The book is a simple and joyous story about a group of people of all ages who join together and include everyone in a parade. Kirkus Reviews calls it “a well-illustrated work with a wonderful moral about finding joy in accepting others.”

And now we want to take this project even farther.

It’s time to send Carissa to Washington.

Nancy and I would like to send a copy of The Everybody Club to every member of Congress. This book is an important reminder from a child—a reminder that we all deserve to be cared about and supported, no matter what.

Will you help us send 535 books to Washington? Our cost for each book is a little over $7.00. (Thank you to Amicus Ink for giving us a generous author discount for this project!) Shipping costs (postage, mailers, labels) will be roughly another $10.00 per book. Our goal is to raise $9,500. If we receive extra funds, we’ll distribute additional books to local literacy organizations.

A donation in any amount would be greatly appreciated. We will include your name in the letter we will send with each book. We hope a long list of names in support of Carissa’s ideals will make an impact–and also that the books will be shared with children from all around the country!

With sincere thanks,

Linda and Nancy