Hayley

The Story

Hayley saw a gap that most people never notice: for many children and teens, the hardest part of a psychiatric emergency-room visit isn't the crisis itself — it's the waiting, the uncertainty, and the feeling of being completely alone in a room full of strangers. She founded A Box of Hope to meet that exact moment. Working with her Personify mentor, she built a real youth-led nonprofit that partners with local Emergency Room facilities to deliver Comfort Care Packages — each box thoughtfully filled with hospital-approved comfort items and a short note written by another young person who has been through a similar experience. Personify guided her through turning a heartfelt idea into a functioning organization: mission and messaging, hospital partnerships, operations, and a public presence.

Outcomes

• Founded A Box of Hope — a youth-led nonprofit
• Partners with hospital Emergency Rooms to deliver Comfort Care Packages
• Each box includes hospital-approved comfort items + a peer-written note
• Built the full organization: mission, partnerships, operations, and website