This past summer I was granted the amazing opportunity to join the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Love Your Melon crew. It has truly been an amazing experience so far and I look forward to what the future brings as well.

For those who don't know what Love Your Melon is here's a brief overview:

Love Your Melon was found on October 22nd, 2012 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul Minnesota. Two college students came up with the goal of giving a hat to every kid who is battling cancer in the U.S. At the time, the total number of kids who had cancer was 45,000. They attained a "buy one, give one" business model and quickly achieved their goal. Once they had donated over 45,000 caps (they are now up to 85,000 donated hats!) they expanded their goal to donate over 1 million dollars to the research of pediatric cancer. So far the two gentlemen have raised over $1,500,000 with no end in sight. On Cyber Monday this year, Love Your Melon raised $414,095!!! HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!?!

Love Your Melon also helps individual communities through campus crews. In Omaha, UNO, Creighton, and now the College of Saint Mary all have their own crews who go out and help in the city. Each campus crew helps raise awareness for pediatric cancer and they also volunteer. Our UNO crew has the opportunity to work with kids and their families at the Ronald McDonald House and also at Children's Hospital. We also have taken a young boy, Owen, under our wing. Owen is a little boy who LOVES superheros and who has recently just BEAT CANCER! Our crew is so happy for him and for his amazing family!

These past couple months have been truly eye-opening and heart-warming while working with Owen and his family and while also working with other young kids and their parents. Working with our UNO crew has also been a great experience. I am constantly surrounded by empowering and kind women who genuinely want to help make Omaha (and the world) a better, sweeter, more loving place. They constantly help me to become a better version of myself and for that I am extremely grateful.

So this holiday season, if you can't think of what to get your loved ones head over to https://www.loveyourmelon.com. You'll not only get a present for your friends/family but you will also be helping a child in need. Don't forget to credit UNO at checkout!!