MARCH | 2026

SMILE OF THE MONTH

T.M. is a sweet 14-year-old boy who just lost his grandfather (his caretaker and best friend). He and his Pops shared a love for music, art, sports, and a good joke! T.M. wanted to honor his Pops’ heritage by creating a traditional Native American funeral regalia. We sent a gift card for him to purchase supplies, which T.M. used to handcraft an original Ojibwe outfit with fabric, beads, leather, and ribbons. He wore this to his grandfather’s celebration of life and will use it in the grieving ceremonies. We were more than happy to help, and hope T.M. continues to embrace his ancestry and honor his beloved Pops.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS

YOUR IMPACT

February’s numbers are in, and we helped 1,433 kids this month! All thanks to you – our donors.

FREE WILLS

We are excited to announce our partnership with Free Wills, which provides our supporters with a free estate planning tool. It’s a simple, secure way to create or update your will. It takes about 20 minutes, and is entirely free! Be on the lookout in early March for an email with more details on how to sign up.

VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON

(Photo credit by Patrick Fitzsimmons)

We hosted more than 15 Alice’s Kids volunteers for a thank you luncheon at Mount Vernon Country Club last month. This incredible group works hard to put gift cards into the requester’s hands within 24 to 48 hours of approval! And when the request allows, a volunteer from our impact team follows up to see how our grant has helped the child.

STAFF UPDATE

Welcome to Siobhan Casey, our newest staff member! Siobhan will help to review and process requests. She has more than 25 years of experience working with non-profits, and is passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable children. She has been an Alice’s Kids volunteer and is excited to step into her new role. Siobhan lives with her husband and two sons in Alexandria.

FRIEND OF THE MONTH

Lisa Reilly Binzel first discovered Alice’s Kids through a Patton Oswalt tweet and was thrilled to find such a unique and rewarding mission operating just miles from her home. Since joining the Impact Team in January 2023, she has also stepped up to help with gift card fulfillment. As a self-described "Air Force brat" who moved frequently as a child, Lisa finds it incredibly moving to help children in the very same towns where she once lived. She brings to the team over 25 years of experience in global public relations and market research. After a career spent in D.C. solving complex business puzzles through data and instinct, Lisa now applies that same sharp eye for detail and passion for connecting people to help Alice’s Kids reach children nationwide.

IN ADDITION TO OUR USUAL REQUESTS,

IN FEBRUARY WE PAID FOR...

An ice wrap and stuffy for a young boy who needed surgery.

GED test fees for four young adults who need to enter the workforce.

LEGO set for a 13-year-old boy to keep his mind occupied while he can’t leave his home due to immigration raids.

School uniforms for a 12-year-old mother of a 2-year-old who lives in a home for unwed mothers.

Birthday gifts and party supplies so an unhoused father can provide a meaningful 13th birthday celebration for his daughter.

Bedding for an 11-year-old boy who was using his coat as a blanket after he and his mom escaped an abusive living situation.

A queen daybed for a 17-year-old who had been sharing a twin bed with his younger sister, leading to a lack of sleep that made it hard for him to make it to school.

Application fee for a recently migrated senior to attend the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Aviation Maintenance Technology program.

Alice's Kids is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks to enhance the self-esteem of children in need by providing them with targeted individual assistance to facilitate their participation in scholastic, recreational and social activities.