Itching To Do More: 7 Years at Mending Kids

January 24 has become a meaningful marker in my life.
 
Sixteen years ago, on this date, my marriage ended. Nine years later, on that same date, I stepped into the role of Executive Director of Mending Kids. I don't believe in coincidences as much as I believe in timing, and looking back, I can see how every chapter before that moment prepared me for what came next.
 
This month marks seven years at the helm and fifteen years with the organization overall. All of my prior career experiences, and honestly, navigating life after marriage, prepared me for this role in ways I couldn't have known at the time. The biggest lessons were simple, but not easy. Dropping the fear around asking for what you want, especially when what you want is to save a child's life. And dropping the fear around hearing the word no. The polite declines wrapped around other priorities. None of that is personal, and none of it stops the work if you sincerely believe that it isn't a judgment call and you just keep going.
 
In the early days, I often felt alone. I was learning the role in real time, finding my footing, and working to establish myself. Over time, I realized I wasn't alone at all. There were so many people who felt the same way about this work. Once we found each other and came together, we moved mountains.
 
Seven years of trial and error, global crises, local calamities, and doing our best to keep this good ship afloat have shown me something important. We crossed the sea. We didn't just survive the crossing. We landed. We touched new shores, built partnerships, trained doctors, and helped thousands of children reach healthier futures.
 
As we chart a course for more crossings, I'm reminded how quickly time flies. You put your nose to the ground, work hard, and then look up and realize this is the eighth gala we're prepping for, and if you know me, the eighth time I'm recycling the centerpieces! This is my biggest responsibility, because how we do on March 21 determines how far we can stretch and how far our programs will reach in the year ahead.
 
I'm happy to say that last year, we had a hand in 22 missions, along with several international training workshops that brought doctors from many countries together for hands-on, practical experience. Along the way, we directly mended 400 kids, and indirectly, thousands more.
 
Community means many things to me. First and foremost, my three kids. My friends, who have supported me so I could do this work. The Mending Kids community and our dedicated medical teams, who gave me the grace to grow into this role. And our tireless staff and board, who have stood behind the mission through thick and thin.
 
I'm also excited to welcome three new board members this year: Eric Doerr, Molly Kenny, and Robyn Ross. Each brings life experience, perspective, and enthusiasm, and all have traveled with us on missions.
 
I look forward to working together to open new horizons for Mending Kids.
 
At some point, I stopped counting after personally traveling on more than 60 missions. More than 6,000 kids have now had a real shot at healthier futures. Many are grown. Some have families of their own. That perspective never gets old.
 
It's a privilege to have an outlet for this passion, and with your support, I look forward to guiding Mending Kids into what comes next, grounded in what we've already built.
 
All this to say, together, we are mending kids.
 
With gratitude,
Isabelle Fox
Executive Director

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