Mary Jo Brown Foundation Honors 2018 Kindness Campaign Finalists

On Sunday the Mary Jo Brown Foundation held their 7th Annual Indoor Luau and Fundraiser at the Saugus Elks Hall. Highlight of the day was the presentation of the four finalists in the 2018 Kindness Campaign. Now in its 5th year of conducting this competition, the foundation rewards nominees who best embody the spirit of the foundation which is "Spreading Smiles through Acts of Kindness".

All finalists receive a $250 Visa Gift Card; personalized book courtesy of I See Me Children's Book Publisher, and a framed Certificate of Appreciation. Grand Prize winner is then announce and given a trip for 4 to Disney World.

Finalists this year were:

Hannah Finn of Andover who is responsible for the "One Wish Project" that provides birthday celebrations (cakes made from scratch by Hannah, balloons, and gifts) for children residing in homeless shelters in the Merrimack Valley.

Meredith Casey of North Reading who maintains the "Mighty Meredith Project" that provides support for the medical community, promotes awareness of traumatic brain injury and conducts numerous events centered around promoting kindness in the community and among schools. Meredith also sends messages of encouragement to contacts that are submitted via the Mighty Meredith Project website.

Julia Degnan of Dracut who raises money for pediatric patients at Tufts Medical Center's Floating Hospital for Children; the Adam Keenan Foundation; and Lucy's Love Bus.

Sarah Podradchik of Melrose who has raised thousands of dollars for the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber --and whose brilliant design for shopping bags sold at Home Goods stores through the country helped raise over two million dollars for Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber.

After announcing Hannah Finn as the grand prize winner, Mary Jo Brown Foundation Christina Brown had a very special "Oprah" announcement : the nominees of the "Class of 2018" nominees were of such a high caliber that the board members decided that JULIA is going to Disney, MEREDITH is going to Disney, and SARAH is going to Disney.

To the parents of these amazing young girls we offer our sincere thanks for a job well done. And to these four beacons of light for the future all we can say is :May all your dreams come true!