Editor’s note: Last October, we shone our business spotlight on Strong Little Souls, a successful nonprofit business organized in 2014 by then 13-year-old Madison Quinn. We have continued to follow this remarkable young woman and the impressive work of her organization. Today we bring you an update, followed by the original article.
On May 20, Madison Quinn, founder of Strong Little Souls, graduated from The College of Our Lady of the Elms (ELMS) with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Her cap featured a gold ribbon to represent all the children affected by pediatric cancer. She is thrilled to start her career as a pediatric nurse at Baystate later this summer while continuing to run her nonprofit for pediatric cancer for many years to come.
On June 8th, Quinn was honored by the Patriots Foundation and Gillette at the 2023 Myra Kraft Community MVP award ceremony at Gillette Stadium, one of 25 recipients of the award, which comes with a $10,000 donation to her nonprofit. Since starting Strong Little Souls in 2014, Quinn has worked with thousands of families from all over the U.S. She is currently working with 50 Massachusetts families and roughly 200 families across the country and has over 10,000 followers on social media, including supporters and families she has helped.
Speaking to the recipients, Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft shared, “My beloved late wife Myra and I attended hundreds of team-related events to support the community, but this was always her favorite, and it’s become my favorite. She was always touched by the wonderful stories of volunteers and the ways people gave back to the community. To me, she was the ultimate volunteer, so in 2011, we renamed this award after her. I can genuinely say, nothing would be more meaningful to her.”
In partnership with Haddad Subaru, Premium Waters, Inc., Higher Bar, and Biggin’s Diggins, Strong Little Souls held its first Family Fun Day yesterday, June 25. “It’s safe to say it won’t be our last,” Quinn smiles. Sarah and Andrew Perenick, owners of Berkshire Dream Home Real Estate, donated the beautiful event space, and many Haddad employees donated time on their day off. “We had around 15 families from the Berkshires, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Boston, who enjoyed face painting, balloons and bouncy house, rock painting and piñatas, food and mock-tails. Best of all, the rainy weather held off all day!”
Strong Little Souls – The original article
“I woke up, saw the Instagram post, and felt inspired to do something. My mom couldn’t understand how I went from a 13-year-old kid to an adult overnight.” — Madison Quinn, founder of Strong Little Souls: A Childhood Cancer Foundation
What a strong, young heart can do
PITTSFIELD — If you can remember the “passions” you devoted your time to when you were 13, chances are good they involved sports, music, technology, or something that connected you with your friends. For Madison Quinn, coming across a support page on Instagram for a young girl battling cancer ignited a passion some might argue took her away from her friends, due to the time and energy she devoted to it. She named her passion “Strong Little Souls” (SLS).
Founded in 2014 as “an effort to help brighten the days of children fighting cancer” Strong Little Souls, the organization, raises funds to send care packages, grant wishes, and provide financial support with critical expenses to families facing pediatric cancer.
Reaching out to the young girls’ parents via social media, Quinn asked if she could send a care package, then tailored it to the girl’s age and interests. Since that time, Strong Little Souls has gone from raising $5,000 per year to raising $60,000 per year, enabling Quinn to send approximately 400 care packages, grant 100 wishes, and provide financial assistance (typically around $200) to 100 families this year.
Quinn emphasizes that Strong Little Souls is 100 percent volunteer driven and takes special care to build close relationships with the families it assists. This is how it has been since the beginning, when Quinn began mowing lawns, collecting cans and bottles on trash pick-up mornings, and babysitting in her neighborhood to earn funds. “I put together every care package myself,” she states, “and each one is completely different, personalized for the child and his or her siblings for maximum impact.”
Her efforts, though not widely known, are not unnoticed either. Berkshire Community College created a new category within their “40 under Forty” award for Quinn in 2018, granting her the “Rising Star Award” at the age of 16. And the Patriots recognized her efforts with a “2020 Difference Maker of the Week” award when she was 19.
Forging partnerships along the way
While Quinn bought each item in the early years, she has gained a lot of connections with toy companies and local businesses since then, and now only buys items for teens (who prefer sports or beauty care items and gift cards). Collected items are stored in her old bedroom at her parents’ home in Pittsfield and assembled in Quinn’s Westfield apartment. “It’s like a little elves’ workshop,” she smiles.
For one child, the care package has a Spider Man theme and includes board games and coloring supplies; for another, a pair of funny socks, sensory toys, and Chapstick. If the child lives nearby, Quinn delivers the package herself; if not, she mails the package.
How does she find the children? “Social media is the backbone of the childhood cancer community,” she notes. “The communications and connections are very strong.” She also has developed important inroads with social workers at hospitals throughout the country that specialize in pediatric oncology. One of her strongest partners is UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester.
Raising funds to meet growing needs
The organization was officially approved as a 501(c)(3) in 2020. As unusual as it is to hear of a 13-year-old launching a successful nonprofit, it is even more incredible to see a young person maintain that level of commitment for over a decade. For Quinn—who is currently a senior nursing student at Elms College in Chicopee and a SNAP (Student Nurse Associate Program) at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield—SLS is something that consumes every free second she has. “Every morning, I wake up, check my social media and emails, and begin planning care packages to fill requests. I don’t turn anyone away,” she explains. Although there are many resources to help families dealing with pediatric cancer, they often have stringent eligibility criteria, such as geographic location, age, income level, and survival rate.
Quinn is resolute about leaving families feeling stronger. While there is a risk of people taking advantage of her generosity (her website was hacked two years ago, forcing her to add more security measures), she examines each application on a case-by-case basis and works closely with social workers to verify needs. “Pre-COVID, the needs were smaller, but now there is a crazy influx of families needing support,” she notes.
COVID has not only created more need; it has also made fundraising more challenging. The “Summer Fun Day” she planned at Lake Onota had to be put on the back burner due to the already high risk of infection for immuno-compromised cancer patients. The annual ice-skating parties held at the Boys & Girls Club in Pittsfield were also canceled. However, Quinn was able to hold a musical fundraiser featuring Sawyer Auger (of American Idol fame) on the grounds of Balderdash Cellars in Richmond this spring—the first step toward in-person fundraising, bringing in close to $4,000. She is also happy to be resuming her holiday wreath sale this December (collecting pre-orders during October).
Lifting spirits and advocating for change
Asked about the wear and tear on her own spirit, working with so many children facing dire challenges, she is quick to respond: “It definitely takes a toll, experiencing the amount of loss I’ve experienced, including so many kids my own age, but these families are my friends now. I’m trying to make the most out of every moment I have with them when I come.” Her visits are not only ‘deliveries’ but also include outings, such as shopping sprees, trips to the zoo, boat rides, and even a Tanglewood movie night. “The social aspect is extremely important for these kids,” she notes. One parent recently told her, “If Madison’s coming, it’s gonna be a great day!”
She grew especially close to Kiara, a young girl fighting bone cancer who required rotationplasty surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. Along with supplying much-needed levity by creating witty tee-shirts to deal with people who gawked, Quinn took her on a shopping spree for clothes, toys, an Apple pencil to address her limited range of motion, and a tablet for her brother.
In addition to supporting children and families, Strong Little Souls also works hard to advocate for increased pediatric cancer research. While at least 43 children ages 0-19 in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each day (roughly 15,600 per year), funding directed toward childhood cancer is severely lacking. Less than 4 percent of the federal budget for cancer research goes to all childhood cancers, while adult cancers receive 96 percent. “Without the necessary funding, there will be no cure,” Quinn states. “These children are worth more than 4 percent.”
Where does Quinn see herself five years from now? “I dream of working at a hospital in pediatric oncology and integrating SLS into my work to help provide toys, meals, whatever is needed,” she says. Given all she has accomplished so far, there is no doubt she will make those dreams come true, too.
