Whiz Kids: Founders of Pink Polka Dots

●      Name:  Kelsey Josund, Sierra Alef, and Maddy Berkman

●      Age: Kelsey, 17, Sierra & Maddy, 16

●     Hometown:  Lake Forest Park

●      School: Shorecrest High School (Kelsey and Sierra), and Seattle Academy of Arts & Sciences (Maddy)

●      Accomplishment:

They are founders of the Pink Polka Dots,  a highly successful fundraising guild for Seattle Children’s Hospital which has raised over $330,000 for pediatric brain tumor research in the last 5 years.  

●      Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

 When they were just 11 and 12 years old in sixth grade, these girls turned their grief over losing a friend and classmate to a brain tumor, into action to try to prevent that tragedy happening to other children.  Their efforts started out small, with a table selling handmade jewelry and cards at the LFP Farmer’s Market, and expanded over the years to include dances, concerts, online card sales, and an annual golf tournament. The Pink Polka Dots are the most successful Junior Guild (most members are under age 17) Seattle Children’s Hospital has ever had, and are in the top 25 guilds by amount of money raised. The girls have been featured on Evening Magazine, several King 5 specials, 106.1 FM, in Teen Vogue Magazine, and most recently on The Nate Berkus Show in New York City.  The funds raised are supporting exciting research happening in the lab of Dr. Jim Olson (Fred Hutchinson/Seattle Children’s), whose treatments have potential for helping outcomes for many types of cancers, beyond just pediatric brain tumors.