Maxcares4 Kids Foundation

Prematurely losing a child is undoubtedly every parent’s worst nightmare, one that sadly came true for Boyd and LuAnn Rhea when their 10-year-old daughter Abigail passed away last October after battling brain cancer.

It’s still very fresh and extremely painful to speak about, but for the Rheas, the one silver lining in it all, was seeing their daughter smile during her last months with them. It’s a gift they considered priceless, and one they thank Kevin Maxwell for making possible.

Kevin is the Founder and President of MaxCares4Kids, a foundation focused on organizing activities and events, and providing funding (when possible) to families with children suffering from catastrophic or terminal illnesses, or who have been severely injured in an accident.

The Foundation uses their mascot, a German Shepherd called ‘MAX’ to interact with the kids in a fun and therapeutic way.”

“He is just amazing, the way he interacts with them without even speaking,” LuAnn said of MAX. “At the time when he met Abi, we knew that her tumor was changing and unfortunately spreading, but he had this ability to help her forget everything she was going through, and allowed her just to be a kid again when he was present,” she said.

MAX’s visits with Abi, including a date to Thanksgiving Point, proved to be unforgettable. She continued smiling and spoke about him constantly several days after.

And this is exactly what drove the Foundation’s establishment just over a year ago, the ability to help kids, and their families, forget about illness and injuries, and to enable them to simply enjoy life with a smile, even if only for a moment.

The MaxCares4Kids Foundation is also available to work with local public safety organizations to promote a safer Utah for children across the state.

“I have a very deep love for children and a respect for families that have to go through the loss of, or severe injury of a child,” Kevin said. “So through the Foundation we give these kids opportunities that they obviously will never receive down the road, because of their illness.”

The Foundation’s goal is to use as close as possible to 100% of its donated funds to help the children they work with, and over the coming months they will be embarking on several fundraisers that will enable them to continue their mission of bringing joy into the lives of children who need it most.

“We’re always looking for ways to bring additional money into the foundation, which would in turn help us present more programs and opportunities to the kids,” Kevin said. 

One of their most popular programs, the ‘Safe Kids Pawsee Program’ gives the kids an opportunity to join the Foundation’s mascots for a fun-filled evening on the town, such as a Utah Jazz game, or a night at the aquarium.

It’s your donations that make these unforgettable events possible, and on March 26th, members of the public will have an opportunity to support the Foundation’s amazing work, by making a pledge during ‘Love Utah, Give Utah 2015’.

The event brings together Utahns for 24 hours of giving, and every donation made will help qualify the recipient for challenge grants and prizes, furthering the impact of your gift.

Also visit www.maxcares4kids.org to find out more about the Foundation, its programs and upcoming fundraisers, and how you can assist.

MAX's reminder: “Express your love everyday - you never know when saying ‘I love you’ will be the last time you have that opportunity.”