More Than a Grant: How Colin's Project Changed His Whole Family
Keisha Tubbs, Founder of Mighty Meshaun. receiving a grant from Colin McManiman and his groupmates at Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School.
When Colin McManiman and his classmates at Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School began researching nonprofits for their Youth Philanthropy Program project, they had never heard of Mighty Meshaun. The organization was founded after its namesake, Meshaun, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive pediatric cancer, and it now works to make the pediatric cancer journey a little easier for other families walking a similar path. "As soon as they chose Mighty Meshaun and began learning about its mission, Colin was immediately captivated by Meshaun's story, Meshaun’s mother Keisha, and the incredible work they do," said Colin's mother, Tricia. "He would share about Mighty Meshaun at the dinner table, teaching us all about the organization and the lives it touches."
Colin was drawn to the cause for a few reasons. "Mighty Meshaun stood out to me because they help pediatric children and families see the light in this world when they are going through really dark times," he said. "They're a relatively small nonprofit, and I knew the grant money could go a long way. It was important to me to get their message out, and my hope is that students in the future will remember my group's presentation and continue advocating for them for years to come." When Colin's group was selected to receive Magnified Giving's $1,000 grant, they presented it directly to Keisha, Mighty Meshaun's founder and Meshaun’s mother. "The feeling of presenting the grant was truly indescribable," Colin said. "Having Keisha there with us made the moment even more meaningful, and being able to present the check to her in person was truly special."
Meshaun and Colin
For Colin, the project's end was only the beginning. Keisha invited him and his family to volunteer at a Lego event for patients at Ronald McDonald House, where Colin finally met Meshaun in person. His younger brother, Grady, who had never met Keisha before, came along too. "It was especially meaningful to introduce him to her and share the Mighty Meshaun experience with him," Colin said. "Having Meshaun there made the experience even more meaningful because it allowed me to see firsthand the 'why' behind the mission of Mighty Meshaun."
The evening left a lasting impression on the whole family. "We had the opportunity to meet Meshaun for the first time. He immediately captured each of our hearts with his smile, personality, and sense of humor," Tricia said. "We spent the entire drive home reflecting on our experience and how truly blessed we felt to have been part of such a meaningful and positive evening." The McManimans now follow Meshaun's journey closely. "We pray every night as a family, and every night Meshaun is in our prayers," Tricia said. "We frequently check Keisha's Facebook updates about Meshaun. Sometimes we smile at his dance moves, and other times we pray a little harder for his healing."
Colin has since been named a co-chair of the Mighty Mobilizers, a teen ambassador group that helps Mighty Meshaun organize events, and he plans to continue his philanthropy work with Magnified Giving in high school at St. Xavier. "I feel extremely empowered to be a philanthropist after my experience with Magnified Giving," he said. Looking back, Tricia is still struck by how far a school project has carried her family. "Never could we have imagined how deeply our lives would be impacted when Colin began his Magnified Giving project at the start of eighth grade," she said. "What began as a school project has become such a meaningful part of our lives, and we are incredibly grateful for the gift this experience has been to our entire family."