One Woman’s Journey Through Loss Motivates Her to Guide Others in Their Time of Need

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Patricia Maxin. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Patricia Maxin has shown great strength and compassion throughout her life. A decade ago, when her husband became sick, she retired from 30 years in the public school system teaching kids unable to attend school due to medical or emotional issues. It was a job fraught with challenges but an experience she cherishes and a role that would help prepare her for the work that would follow. 

In 2015, Patricia discovered the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation after her husband’s death from the disease. She has given her time as a board member, a research advocate, a mentor and an annual conference and fundraiser volunteer. CholangioConnect, a program she founded in 2017, has matched more than 1,100 patients and caregivers with experienced mentors—often in less than 48 hours—and has been an overwhelming success. 

Patricia volunteered to manage the program for six years, putting in 120 hours of work each month until June 2023 when a permanent staff member was hired for the role. She remains a dedicated mentor and research advocate for patients around the world, work she is not only uniquely qualified to do but that she loves. 

What inspired you to volunteer for this initiative? 

The foundation wasn’t even on my radar when my husband, Mike, was diagnosed. Things were more primitive back then. My husband wasn’t able to get a tumor sample, so we weren’t looking at trials.  

My husband’s physician was instrumental in introducing me. He suggested that I go to the conference after Mike died. He thought I would enjoy the event and the people. When I decided to be a mentor, the idea for CholangioConnect had been hatched, but no one had run with it. I was asked to be the program manager until they hired someone.  

Tell us about your volunteer role with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. 

I still work as a research advocate and a mentor, but I stopped managing the program this year. I’ve lived in Houston for the last 40+ years. Patients often travel here for trials and second opinions, and I have the honor of hosting and caring for them while they’re here, often in my home. I’ll walk them through situations and scenarios. I’ll give them resources. Two nights ago, an individual who lives in India called to ask about the normalcy of a situation, and I will research for her and find out. I’ll sit with someone at an appointment and provide transportation. I listen, I advocate, I research. We do dinners.  

Not all mentees come to Houston; they are all around the world. I’m just there for them. I don’t have family here, so it frees up a lot of space. They can call anytime, and it’s one of the most flattering things when someone is comfortable enough to take me up on that.  

I don’t do much volunteer training now, but for the last six years I did all of it. I served as a quarterback for people who were going to be mentors. For some, you actually would do it with them for a while. Others were ready from the get-go. A lot of people are worried they won’t have all the answers. No one has all the answers, including the doctors. That’s why the program is wonderful. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work? 

The friendships that have developed, even with those who have died, are forever. Tomorrow, I’m going to visit a family in Mexico that stayed with me and has become family. Their patient has passed away. 

Thirty-five years ago, I was volunteering at MD Anderson. A chaplain told me that when someone lets you in their life in those final days, it really is a privilege. And it is. It’s a very private place. I think that’s why the friendships are so deep; it’s emotionally and spiritually rewarding to be with other people through their journey.  

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer? 

If there’s anything that is frustrating for me, it’s seeing what these people are going through. I lost my mom when I was little, so for me, the ones that really hurt are the ones where there are children. That’s probably my greatest gift, being able to relate to the children.  

You just learn that life is short. You want to make today a better day for someone through a smile or a kind word. You realize what’s important and what’s not. What blows me away are the patients who are so giving that they’re willing to volunteer to help another patient. Even when they’re weeks or months away from dying. You see beauty in people.  

What is the best way a friend or neighbor can support someone going through a medical journey like this?  

Don’t say, “I know how you feel.” You don’t. And don’t ask what you can do to help. Just do it. Go to the grocery store, and call the person and say, “I’m standing in the juice aisle. Do you want the grape or orange?” If you ask what you can get them, they’re going to say, “Nothing.” But if you say, “I’m here. Which one do you want?” They are much more inclined to give you an answer.  

Ninety-five percent of the people are not going to “call if they need anything,” because they feel like they’re imposing. Take action. Pick up their garbage can at the end of the day when you know they’re in treatment. Do things without them asking, because for many people, it’s hard to ask.  

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about? 

It’s nice to believe that humans are here to help each other, whatever the cause. When you have had the opportunity to be on the receiving end of kindness by a perfect stranger, you realize that’s what we should all strive for. 

What do you want people to learn from your story? 

It’s an honor to be able to do things for people. My father used to always say you find time for what’s important. And I think doing things for others is very important. 

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Patricia? Find local volunteer opportunities. 

From Loss to Support: Finding Peace in Helping

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Adam Katz. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Adam Katz had been married for barely a month when his wife Doreen, his college sweetheart, lost her life to breast cancer. The couple were trying to decide between a comfortable life in upstate New York and a more vagabond life traveling the world. Doreen’s diagnosis came when Adam was in the Navy. Knowing that he couldn’t wait another moment, Adam proposed and married Doreen. Due to his high-level security clearance, he couldn’t tell anyone about the marriage as Doreen would have had to obtain clearance to marry Adam. Instead, Adam was forced to bottle up the pain and carry his secret for more than 12 years.

Adam turned the tragedy of his wife’s death into a vehicle for social good with the founding of the Doreen Katz Memorial Cancer Foundation. Currently active in 11 states, the Foundation assists children and families of cancer patients by covering the cost of after-school childcare, all school fees for specialty classes for grades K-12 and therapy for children to help them process the situation.

What inspires you to volunteer?

I’ve always been a helper. My wife Doreen was also active in volunteering. Throughout college, we were involved in the Special Olympics. When I was in the Navy, our ship would do volunteer activities in whichever port we were visiting. My job in the Navy was solitary. Volunteering allowed me a way to be around other people and meet people from all over the world. It felt good to do something positive worldwide.

After Doreen passed, I came to Denver. I was completely despondent, at the lowest point in my life. I volunteered at Brent’s Place, which is an amazing organization that provides a sterile home environment for families of kids with life-threatening diseases, such as kids who are receiving bone marrow transfusions. Brent’s Place ended up being a great source of information when I was starting my own foundation.

In 2009, I wasn’t ready to start a charity yet. I happened to receive a flyer from the Cherry Creek School District saying that the school district hadn’t met their budget so they would have to start charging for Advanced Placement classes, music, art and other activities. It didn’t sit well with me knowing that people with cancer, who already had so many additional expenses, now couldn’t afford to give their kids the best well-rounded education possible. That got me thinking about how to provide financial assistance to cover school-related costs for kids of cancer patients

Tell us about your volunteer role with the Doreen Katz Memorial Cancer Foundation.

I am the founder of the Doreen Katz Memorial Cancer Foundation. One of my roles is to regularly check in with social workers at various hospitals throughout eleven states, to help identify families that we could help. I reach out to these families and find the ones that are open to receiving support. Not all are, which is difficult for me to hear, but I always respect their wishes.

I source therapists who can help counsel the children of cancer patients. We don’t have an in-house therapy team, but I’ve found some amazing therapists in all of the geographical areas we serve.

I also work with the schools that these kids go to. My goal is to completely relieve the family of the burden of having to pay for activities. The Foundation takes care of the payments.

Currently we are serving around 100 families, which is over 200 kids in 11 states. Since the program goes through K-12, we’re there for the kids all the way through their high school graduation whether the parent survives or not. During this time, the kids and their families become our family.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

A month before Doreen passed, we were discussing our lives together. I didn’t tell anyone in the Navy about the fact we wanted to marry because I had top security clearance and Doreen would have had to go through exhaustive clearance, which she couldn’t because she was in treatment for breast cancer. I married her clandestinely, on the spot, and she passed about a month later. It was extremely difficult that I couldn’t talk to anyone about getting married, or my loss. I had to bottle up the hurt.

I spoke about my experience for the first time at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, in front of 2,000 people in June 2009. At the closing ceremony I noticed that one man had started a foundation to support kids of cancer patients. Even though Doreen and I didn’t have kids, I got inspired to help.

When a parent has cancer, they are often too sick or exhausted to interact with their children. They sometimes don’t have the skills to talk about the situation with their kids and so the kids are left confused and without anyone to talk to about their fears and feelings. I decided to do something to help. I looked for organizations that offered financial support as well as therapy for the kids of cancer patients.

At the time, I was busy working on my master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from C.S.U., but I couldn’t shake the idea of wanting to help these kids. I kept checking whether anyone had started a foundation near me that I could join. I kept coming up empty. I decided that if I didn’t find such an organization by the time I graduated, I would start one. I registered the Doreen Katz Memorial Cancer Foundation on the anniversary of Doreen’s day of passing.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

We quickly saw that our program was working and saw the opportunity to help in every state. We started in Colorado but we are now in 11 states. My ultimate goal is a physical presence in all 50 states. We are gradually working our way across the country. Some states are more challenging to work in than others, but we are making headway in establishing a presence in all states.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

I love getting to meet the families and being able to spend time with them during the good times and the bad. Thanksgiving can be challenging in a good way because I’ll often receive eight or 10 invitations to Thanksgiving dinner, and I can’t possibly say no to anyone. I spread myself thin among all of the families that invited me. I’ve attended sports practice with the kids, school plays and other events with the families. We are family.

The social workers in hospitals are always so grateful to give their patients this resource. In many cases, these social workers have had personal experience with being a child of cancer patients, and it’s often the reason they became social workers in the first place. Our family of social workers across the nation is growing.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

Volunteering is incredibly rewarding. When you’re having a bad day, you can shift your focus to someone who’s going through something much worse than you. Being in service puts things into perspective and you don’t have the time to feel sorry for yourself.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.

We’ve been slow to restart our fundraising events because I don’t feel it’s what our families need. Instead, we want to focus on fun events. Our biggest event before COVID was a laser tag tournament for the families, therapists and sponsors. We are hoping to resurrect this type of event in the near future.

We collaborate with various therapeutic partners such as ranches that offer equine therapy. One of our partners in Colorado is Hearts and Horses. There are other equine therapy facilities where the kids can ride horses, partly as therapy and partly just for fun so they can have as normal a life as possible. Equine therapy is a less intimidating type of therapy for the kids. It’s often easier for them to open up about their feelings outdoors with horses around, than sitting in a therapist’s office talking to a stranger.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

Volunteering brings people together. Everyone has a passion and when they volunteer in that area, they’re more excited about it. They inevitably find plenty of other people who share their passion. One person can do a lot, but joining together helps fill in skill and knowledge gaps. I appreciate all of our volunteers because they often come up with brilliant ideas and solutions. The more people get involved, the better equipped an organization can be to effectively provide services to the recipients.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

The easiest thing is to Google anything you’re interested in. There are literally thousands of wonderful organizations out there you can get involved with.

Put your own spin on what you do. Every October I grow a beard and dye it pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I showed up with my pink beard to an equine therapy program. That pink beard awakened something in a nonverbal autistic child who kept reaching out to try and touch it. This was an incredibly moving moment.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

Keeping things inside is not helpful. Holding on to your pain will eat at you. Find someone you can talk to. I held my pain inside for twelve and a half years. I believe that if I didn’t finally open up and talk about it, I wouldn’t be alive today and wouldn’t have had the inspiration or the opportunity to start the foundation. Pain can be transformed into something incredibly impactful.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Adam? Find local volunteer opportunities.

Mother Illuminates Lives for Young Adults with Cancer Through Wish-granting Nonprofit

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Kelli Boehle. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

As the founder and president of Nik’s Wish, Kelli Boehle’s commitment to honoring her son Nikolas’s memory has transformed into a powerful mission of delivering hope, happiness and cherished moments to those in their darkest times.

The foundation of Nik’s Wish is deeply rooted in a personal story of love and loss but has created a profound impact for young adults with cancer and their families.

Kelli’s son, Nikolas, battled cancer. His journey inspired the inception of the organization. In his memory, Kelli channeled her grief into a force for good, creating a legacy that extends Nikolas’s spirit of courage and resilience. This journey began as a heartfelt mission to fulfill the unmet wishes of young adults with cancer, acknowledging a demographic often overlooked in wish-granting programs.

“Nik was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma when he was 17 years old,” Kelli shared. “He was in high school. We finally found out on Christmas Day that the cancer wrapped around his spine was a cancerous tumor. You can imagine the devastation and tornado of terrible news at that time. But the one thing that Nik got was a wish from the Make a Wish Foundation. He happened to meet another kid, Nate, when he was going through clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health. He was telling Nate all about his wish and how excited he was about it, and Nate explained that he had missed Make a Wish by one month – he was diagnosed one month after his 18th birthday.”

After that conversation, Nik ran through the door with a passion to do something about Nate’s missed wish. Kelli explained that all of their efforts were focused on saving Nik’s life, but Nik was persistent.

“But it was very heavy on his heart; it was really important to him,” Kelli recalled.

Eight months later, while in Arizona for a procedure, Nik played an inspiring Dave Matthews song for his mother and explained how important it was for young adults with cancer to have something positive to look forward to. He asked Kelli again if she would help kids who missed out on wishes due to their age, to get the opportunity to have a wish granted. She agreed to try.

“Little did I know, the next morning during his 20-minute procedure, the tumor would invade a major blood vessel and he would die in the hands of the doctors,” Kelli shared. “But that little seed that he planted in my head kept nagging at me. Finally, about three months later, I finally decided I needed to find out whether the idea had any merit.”

Kelli called Nik’s oncologist and explained Nik’s idea. The doctor confirmed that Nik had been spot-on about the lack of programs for young adults with cancer, once they turn 18. Understanding the unique challenges faced by these young adults, Nik’s Wish emerged as a sanctuary of hope and joy, offering not just wishes, but a symbol of support and understanding to those navigating the complexities of cancer during a pivotal stage of their lives. The very first person to have his wish granted was Nate, the young man who had sparked Nik’s passion for the idea.

The growth of Nik’s Wish, from an idea borne of personal loss to a nationwide beacon of hope, illustrates the transformative power of human empathy and the impact of turning a personal tragedy into a pathway for bringing light to others in their darkest moments. To date, the organization has granted more than 318 wishes in 38 states. When wishes are delivered, the team brings a 16-foot wish lamp that expels smoke and lights up – something that the organization built.

Kelli says of the wishes, “A lot of them are trips. Some are really souped-up gaming systems – which are sometimes a means of escape and often connection to other people. We’ve had some puppy wishes, which are always fun. And then there have been some musical instrument wishes. Sometimes concerts or sporting events. But mostly, they’re travel related. What I hear a lot from these kids is that they want to take their parents somewhere to say thank you – parents who have quit their jobs and devoted all their time and resources into treatment. That’s just incredible, that these kids are then able to give something back to their parents.”

Kelli’s role in Nik’s Wish goes beyond traditional leadership. Her responsibilities encompass a wide range of activities crucial to the organization’s success, from running events and coordinating volunteers to overseeing marketing, hospital outreach and the administration of donations. Her involvement in public relations and speaking engagements further amplifies the reach and impact of Nik’s Wish.

“We want to be around to deliver joy as long as there is cancer to fight,” Kelli expressed. “We’re really working on trying to become more sustainable and put pieces in place so that Nik’s Wish can continue. Sadly, we’re just scratching the surface of young adults who fit into this 18- to 24-year-old category. So, we’re ramping up and creating a sustainability plan. I’d love to close up shop, but sadly I don’t see that in our future, so we have to continue on.”

Kelli’s innovative approaches not only harness the joy of fulfilled wishes, but also captivate and uplift the spirits of those receiving them. Beyond the enchanting wish lamp, she has spearheaded a variety of unique initiatives to personalize each wish experience. Understanding that joy can be found in the smallest details, Kelli and her team tailor each wish to reflect the individual’s personality and dreams, whether it’s a special trip, meeting a personal hero or receiving a cherished item. These experiences are crafted not just to bring a momentary smile, but to create lasting memories that infuse strength and happiness in challenging times.

Kelli’s approach goes beyond the material aspects of wish-granting; she ensures that each interaction is filled with warmth and personal connection, making every wish recipient feel valued and understood. This personal touch in every wish granted is a hallmark of Nik’s Wish, setting it apart as an organization that truly understands and cherishes the essence of spreading joy.

Perhaps the most heartfelt aspect of Kelli’s work is her role as a wish maker. Having personally delivered more than 100 wishes, Kelli has been at the forefront, witnessing the immediate joy and impact these wishes have on young adults with cancer. Her direct involvement underscores her deep personal commitment to the cause.

“When I’m able to deliver that news to someone and they’re so excited their wish is granted – the wish reveal – I just love that moment,” Kelli said of the rewards of running the nonprofit. “Something else has happened that I didn’t know would. When families lose their loved ones, a lot of times the parents come back and band together. Creating that community and that bond, that friendship and understanding we have for each other, the support we create beyond the wish, that’s really rewarding too.”

The success of Nik’s Wish is also attributed to the dedicated team of volunteers and the recent addition of a development director. Kelli’s collaboration with the volunteer CFO, Lydia Bainter, ensures that the organization remains financially stable and capable of continuing its mission.

“Volunteering is the most rewarding thing that you can do,” Kelli said. “When you care about something and you’re passionate about it, and you’re able to volunteer your time and talents and truly make a difference, there’s nothing in the world more rewarding than that. So do it, even if it’s small. You’ll find your niche. There are always great friends to be found in volunteering too. Just take that first step.”

Kelli, through her leadership and compassion in Nik’s Wish, has created a legacy that transcends the personal tragedy of losing a child to cancer. Her tireless dedication to bringing moments of happiness and respite to young adults facing cancer is a poignant reminder of the power of human kindness and the impact one individual can have.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Kelli? Find local volunteer opportunities.

Snail Mail for Seniors Brings Joy and Connection

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Connie Rich. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

The nonprofit world is a familiar place for Connie Rich, a retired B2B sales and fundraising professional. At one point, Connie even ran her own company assisting women getting back into the workforce after career breaks. Today, her volunteer work extends to her church, community social justice programs and Heart of Ida.

The last of these was started by Connie’s two daughters and is dedicated to helping seniors remain independent as they age, the familial connection making helping out an easy decision. During the pandemic, increased needs of seniors led to more funding and expansion with the opportunity to purchase and distribute tablets that helped people stay connected during isolation. Among other initiatives, the organization provides education on how to use technology, engaging teenagers on summer break to impart their often-extensive knowledge on the topic.

Using her skills from previous volunteer work, Connie spends nearly 50 hours a month building connections with seniors by creating personalized homemade cards with heartfelt messages to send through the mail. Whether it’s a happy birthday, a get –well soon or a simple hello, Connie’s cards brighten the day of all recipients. In the age of email and iPhones, physical mail feels like a gift of friendship. From the newest intern to the most veteran of staff, Connie’s kindness and infectious energy also brings a smile to the face of everyone in the office.

What inspires you to volunteer?

I’ve pretty much always volunteered. When I retired, I began doing more because I like getting involved. And there’s plenty of organizations and people out there who need help. It’s been about three years that I’ve been doing this for Heart of Ida. I started at my church. Once a month after our service, about 10 of us would make handmade cards for the people in the church who were hospitalized or in nursing homes or couldn’t make it to the services. That’s where I was taught, and I just love doing it. I just carried it over to Heart of Ida. I try to do five a day, and I’m there three days a week. It ends up being approximately 60 to 70 cards a month.

Tell us about your volunteer role with Heart of Ida.

I make handmade cards with handwritten notes that go out to all types of clients. A big part of their program for seniors is to keep them connected, because so many of them live on their own and are lonely. A lot of them are isolated; they don’t have any family nearby, or their relatives have passed away. Sometimes it just gets harder as people are older to be able to get out and be social. And so, I send these cards. Each one is completely customized. No two are the same.

Older generations especially like getting mail. They’re used to it, and a lot of them don’t text or email much. So, a handwritten card means a lot to them. A lot of younger people don’t even use cursive writing anymore. I also write thank-you letters to the donors and other people who help out with the organization.

Are there other designated card-writers?

I’m the only one. Occasionally, I’ll ask a volunteer to do things like put stamps on envelopes or something. But really, I do everything else. We have other a few other volunteers along with our staff. We also have interns from Long Beach or Cal State Long Beach. I once asked them to put stamps and return addresses on the envelopes for me, and they put them on the wrong sides. They put the stamp on the left side and the return address on the right side. We got a kick out of that, but the post office did take the cards. We had to teach the interns how to address a letter.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

It’s really rewarding when you get phone calls about how they’re saving the card on their shelf so they can look at it. I love being creative with them, designing and then writing in the message, but hearing back that it really means something is what makes it worthwhile.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I’ve realized how much helping people stay connected means to them. It’s so important. I’ve seen the different ways that Heart of Ida helps older people when they come into the office and tell their stories. You see how much more we can do for more people.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.

I’m really busy right now sending cards to different partners, donors and clients just to make sure they know we’re thinking about them over the holidays. When we were able to give people the tablets, I would send a card later saying that we hope they’re enjoying their new device and to let us know if they need help. I include that on every card for clients to remind them that we’re always here for them.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

I think it helps the person who’s doing the help. I’ve always gotten as much out of it as I’ve given. When you help somebody else, especially if you’re even having bad times, it can really lift you up.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

They, too, can find something that they enjoy doing and give it to the world. It makes it better for everybody in your community, the organization and yourself.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Connie? Find local volunteer opportunities.