Peer Support

The Le Bonheur Foundation recently launched a new peer-to-peer fundraising tool, Everyday Hero. The easy-to-use online platform allows individuals to leverage their own network of supporters to raise funds for a cause near to their heart.

The Williford family of Memphis, Tenn., used the Everyday Hero platform to raise more than $33,000 for

Le Bonheur through the Lucy115 – a cycling ride from Nashville to Sewanee that honors their daughter, Lucy, who died unexpectedly in 2017 at 10 months old.

“When Lucy died, we requested memorials be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church and Le Bonheur. We chose Le Bonheur for numerous reasons. It’s an incredible children’s hospital in this great city, which relies on outside funding. We were able to see and experience the hospital for about the first two years of our second son, Hays’, life,” said Judson Williford. 

Users can personalize their page with their story and photos, set a fundraising goal and encourage friends and family to donate directly to Le Bonheur through the simple click of a button. It’s easy to use the site to celebrate birthdays and special occasions, and remember loved ones.

“During our first year of raising funds for Le Bonheur, we used a third party site. The funds did not go directly to Le Bonheur, but instead through the individual who opened the page. This time around, funds went directly to Le Bonheur, which was great as it cut out ‘the middle man,’” Judson said.

Carolyn Harding and Irby Bilsky decided to fundraise for Le Bonheur to celebrate their upcoming wedding. In lieu of gifts, the couple asked for donations to the hospital, where Carolyn’s son, Jeff, worked on research during his PhD program with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in immunology.

“When we decided to get married, we knew that we wanted for and needed nothing. We recently toured the hospital. We knew right away that we would ask our family and friends to honor us with donations to Le Bonheur,” Irby said. “In our opinion, there is not a more deserving charitable cause. It has been a great joy for us to share the love and hopefulness of the hospital with all of our friends and loved ones.”

The couple has nearly met their goal.