But before we begin—we just want to say—at WonderFold, we believe everyone should strive to create a better world. That’s why we’re dedicated to making a difference and helping the lives of families in need. 🙂

As we look back on the first few months of 2023, we’re proud to share some inspiring stories of how we’re doing just that! But before we get to our WonderFold fairy’s work, we’d like to tell you about our recent (and awesome) partnership with Jacy’s Wagons.

Jacy’s Wagons is a mission started by Jacy Raburn after she became a patient at St. Jude’s. While undergoing treatments, she noticed that many of the other kids in the hospital were too big for the wagons provided by St. Judes — and she wanted to change that. She wanted to help children have access to wagons that provided a safe and comfortable form of transportation both in the hospital and at home.

With this in mind, Jacy and her family started their non-profit organization and shipped their first wagon in November 2022. Since then, they’ve sent out over 31 wagons to families all over the United States — that’s right, not just to families staying at St. Judes, but also to those who travel to St. Jude for treatment. We love it! 

Jennifer Raburn and her daughter, Jacy, approached us with a mission to donate as many WonderFold wagons as possible to the families of children receiving treatment at St. Jude Children Hospital. After Jacy gave a presentation on her cause to a local Kiwanis club, she received enough funding to purchase eight X2 Stroller Wagons.

We were so in love with Jennifer and Jacy’s mission and the impact it would have to those in need, that we decided to match the Kiwanis donation and gifted another eight wagons to the cause. We believe these strollers will make a real difference in the lives of these families, and we're proud to be a part of this amazing effort.

As Jennifer said:

“I think the picture of them in their wagons tells the story we want WonderFold families to see. The joy on their faces while dealing with pain, fear, and sickness in their lives.”

Jennifer, we couldn’t agree more, and we’re truly honored to support your efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these brave children. We hope our donation helps bring joy to the families at St. Jude and we look forward to continuing to support Jacy’s Wagon’s important mission in the future.

In fact, here are a few images showing the progress we’ve made so far:

Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the inspiring stories of WonderFold Cares that motivate us to keep working towards a better world for all. As you’ll see, we’ve had the privilege of helping several organizations and families this year! Let’s take a look!

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Illinois

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a non-profit organization that funds research and supports people with blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and Hodgkin’s disease.

Each year, high school and college students nationwide compete to raise funds for the LLS over a seven-week initiative, culminating in a Grand Finale Celebration to laud the participants’ achievements and announce the winner.

We chose to support the efforts of these wonderful competitors by donating a W1 Stroller Wagon to the silent auction held before the celebration. Our contribution helped support the cause and showcased the versatility of our stroller wagons.

It thrilled us to see the excitement generated by the auction and the impact our donation had on the event’s success. We remain committed to supporting the work of LLS and to making a positive difference in the lives of families affected by blood cancers.

Chester Co-op Preschool 

Rebecca Bennett nominated the Chester Co-op Preschool to receive one of our stroller wagons after witnessing how it positively changed her family’s life. 

“Many of them would benefit from owning your product. My son has Down Syndrome, and we use our WonderFold wagon almost daily!”

This unique non-profit preschool dedicates itself to providing high-quality early childhood education and care for kids aged 2 to 5 years old. 

We also thought the X2 wagon would be the perfect addition to the school. Its five-point harness system will ensure the safety of the students, while its spacious interior is ideal for transporting groups of little ones around the campus or on field trips.

The X2’s one-step folding system also makes it easy to store between uses, a particularly important feature in a school setting.

We hope the staff, children, and Chester Co-op are enjoying their wagon and look forward to hearing how it helps enhance their school experience!

The El Paso Rhinos’ Ice Gala

The El Paso Rhinos hockey team held their first-ever Rhino Ice Gala this year, raising funds to ensure all children in the city can experience the thrill of playing hockey. 

Along with providing the finances for kids from all economic situations to learn valuable life lessons through skating, half the proceeds from the auction benefited Make-A-Wish North Texas.

Our WonderFold fairy donated an X2 stroller wagon to the event, and we’re proud that our gift will benefit the Rhinos’ skate program and the rewarding work of the foundation. We’re honored to have the opportunity to contribute to such worthwhile organizations. 

Calusa Elementary School’s 12th Annual Bids for Kids

Each year, Calusa Elementary in Boca Raton, Florida, holds an auction to support academics and enhance its technology programs. All proceeds go directly to the school, helping to bridge the gap left by the state’s decreasing education budget.

We wanted to make a difference in the lives of these students and the faculty, so we donated a W1 stroller wagon to their March 7th event. This model is a versatile, practical tool for families with young children, and we hope it makes a valuable addition to the winning bidder’s household.

Auction for Aspen

Chad and Julie Anthony turned a tragedy into a mission to help others in memory of their granddaughter, Aspen. After losing the little girl unexpectedly, the couple decided to honor her brief life on earth by supporting the efforts of Imani Milele Children in Uganda.

This incredible organization rescues, educates, and improves the lives of the country’s orphaned and most vulnerable children, with approximately 5,000 kids educated and housed across several campuses.

The Anthonys sponsored several children at the Troas school and saw first-hand how the center desperately needed additional facilities. Putting their plans into action in 2018, they successfully raised enough funds to build seven new classrooms, a girls and boys’ bathroom, and on-campus housing for four teachers and their families.

Not stopping there, the power pair also opened an on-campus children’s home, which now accommodates more than 50 girls.

They have big plans for Imana Milele Children’s future. They’re gathering resources to build a second children’s home for 100 boys, a new borehole, and additional housing for staff and teachers.

Auction for Aspen events occur several times throughout the year, and all the funds raised through these initiatives go towards aiding the center.

We played our part in honoring Aspen while changing the lives of children and donated an X4 Stroller Wagon to their recent auction. Good luck reaching your goal, Chad and Julie; we hope our contribution helps you meet all the needs at the Troas campus.

JS Aucoin Elementary School 

Students at JS Aucoin Elementary contacted us to get some help for two special needs students. These kiddos need help while being transported around school, as they both have eloping tendencies, but a shabby, broken wagon was being used.

We believe in ensuring all children have access to safe and reliable transportation, especially those living with special needs. That’s why we were thrilled to donate a W4 Elite Stroller Wagon to the school, providing safer, more reliable student mobility.

We designed the W4 Elite with safety in mind and functionality in mind, making it the perfect solution for children who require extra care and attention during transportation. 

We hope our contribution makes a positive difference in the lives of these students and are proud to support JS Aucoin Elementary in their efforts to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for all of their children.

Blake Voros

Blake Voros’ family has their hands full. The five-year-old boy was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis almost a year ago, and his parents have to travel two hours away every three months for scopes at the hospital.

These procedures aren’t easy, as Blake is put under anesthesia and unable to walk for several hours after. If this wasn’t enough to deal with, the little family is also growing! Blake and his older sibling look forward to welcoming a new baby this April.

We want to help make their lives less stressful, so we gave Blake and his family a W4 Elite stroller wagon. 

#Stevesheartjourney

Once in a while, life throws us a curveball that we don’t see coming. In Morgan’s case, she never expected that one of her twins would be born with only half his heart. Turning two years old in April, Steve is living with end-stage heart failure until a viable transplant is found for him.

However, this little boy isn’t waiting for his life to start. Recently released from the hospital to spend some time at home for the first time in his short life, Steve is ready to explore the world with his twin and older sister.

We gifted this special family a W4 Elite stroller wagon to help them grow and adventure together. We hope it provides a safe and comfortable way for Steve to discover the world around him with his sisters, and we’re honored to play a small part in their journey.

The Curtis Family

At just 15 months old, Natalie’s son has already faced several challenges. Initially appearing normal at birth, it wasn’t until three months later his parents noticed he wasn’t reaching his milestones.

After genetic testing, doctors discovered three mutations. While he shows signs similar to cerebral palsy, tests have returned negative. 

Despite these difficulties, he loves to sit and explore the world around him with his sister. We gifted this family a W2 Elite Wagon to help them make their baby’s life as normal as possible and bring them some joy on their adventures together.

Zoe Leanne Gravelen

Finally, we’re honored to share Zoe’s story. This little girl has shown incredible strength and resilience despite her genetic disorder, bi-coronal craniosynostosis, and the challenges that come with it.

After undergoing life-changing cranial surgery at just 17 months old, Zoe was diagnosed with sleep apnea and given a MIC-KEY button feeding tube. Although this device has been a blessing, it tethers Zoe to a feeding pole for four hours a day.

As a curious two-year-old, Zoe has adapted remarkably well, but her mother constantly fears she’ll pull her tube out. We were humbled to give Zoe and her family a W4 Elite stroller wagon, providing a safe and comfortable way for her to discover her surroundings.

We hope it brings a smile to Zoe’s face and helps her continue to thrive.

WonderFold Cares: Helping Families in Need

Thank you for taking the time to read these inspiring stories in this quarter’s edition of WonderFold Cares.

If you happen to know of a family who could benefit from one of our wagons, we encourage you to fill out our WonderFold Cares form and let us know how to assist them.

Together, let’s continue to spread joy and bring hope to those who need it the most.

To see you guys out, here are just a couple more images from the St Jude’s program we mentioned at the start! 🙂

Check out some of our other stories too!

• WonderFold Cares - December 2022
• WonderFold Cares - November 2022
• WonderFold Cares - July 2022

This year, we’re happy to say we flourished under a wave of positivity at WonderFold. We helped so many families and communities in need. 

It warms our hearts, but our journey doesn’t stop. As we draw closer to the holiday season (and throughout it), we’re assisting families who need that extra help. As part of that, we’re excited to have more stories to share with you today. 

Today, we’ll be sharing the stories of:

• Amy Bortel.
• Mackenzie Rose.
• Bailey Westerhold.
• Nicole (shared by Brittany Heckman)
• Tanya Christian.

So if you see a name you recognize, feel free to jump straight to their story. Otherwise, read each story below and let these beautiful souls bring happiness to your day—just as they did ours.

Let’s get started. 

Amy’s Story — Everyday Heroes and a Gorgeous Grandbaby

This is the story of a lovely daughter and grandbaby living with high-risk stage 4 neuroblastoma. The grandbaby in this story was diagnosed with the horrible disease in October and has since started treatment in Los Angeles—45 miles from home. 

As you can imagine, life isn’t easy for Amy’s family. However, despite the difficulty, there is happiness to be had—a new baby joined the family on November 9th. 🙂 

Unfortunately, though, looking after two kids isn’t easy. In fact, we’ve spoken to mothers worldwide and know how hard it is, and we’re sure you understand how challenging it is, too. 

However, since the lovely grandbaby of this story is living with high-risk cancer, life for Amy’s fam is even more challenging than that.

Her family sometimes have to go back and forth from the hospital five days in a row so that the grandbaby can get her treatment. Sometimes, the grandbaby doesn’t even get to come home from those treatments.

Now, imagine what needs to come with Amy’s family on the days when Grandbaby can’t come home:

• Toys
• Games
• Diapers
• A stroller
• Baby seat
• Extra clothes

Not to mention, Amy’s family has to find a place to park in a big LA hospital, which can be troublesome.

However, that’s not all there is to this story—this story also includes two everyday heroes. 

The mother in this story is a nurse, and her husband is a fireman. So getting time off to tend to poor Grandbaby isn’t easy—they have to take lots of sick days and vacation time to stay with her.

We understand how difficult that must be, and we wanted to do everything we could to help. So we’ve donated Amy and fam one of our W4 Elite wagons.

W4 Elite Stroller Wagon

The W4 Elite Stroller Wagon holds up to 4 children, but for Amy and her family, it will provide ample storage space to ensure they’re equipped for Amy’s in-patient stays. It has a deep carriage, a weight capacity of up to 300 lbs, and even zippered mesh panels on the sides for extra storage space.

Amy and fam, we hope it makes your life easier. <3

And remember, because both of your parents are everyday heroes, you can also sign up for our exclusive heroes discount should you ever need more from us. 

Mackenzie’s Story — A Gift for Difficult Times

This story isn’t easy to talk about. Recently, the Rose family found themselves in a difficult situation. The mom of this dear family is caring for her four children all on her own—two of her children are four years of age, and the other two are only babies. 

We mentioned in Amy’s story how difficult looking after two kids is, but being on your own with four kids, we can’t even imagine.

However, Rose has a caring support network helping her pay her bills, and we want to help, too—because Rose—we’re told you’re an incredibly sweet family.

So, like with Amy, we’ve gifted Mackenzie Rose and her family a W4 Elite Stroller Wagon. We know Mom was saving for a wagon, but you don’t need to save anymore. We’re here to help. <3

Bailey’s Story — Surgeries with a Little Warrior

This next story features Bailey, but be warned, it’s another hard one to hear.

It all started when Bailey went to find out the gender of her second baby. After two unsuccessful trips and having specialists tell her they couldn’t identify her baby’s gender, she contacted her obstetrician.

Bailey’s obstetrician booked her in for an ultrasound—and it wasn’t long after that when Bailey was told some terrible news. 

“Your baby will not make it past 20 weeks of pregnancy. The baby has too many defects to survive.”

Hearing this news is just horrible. And unsurprisingly, Bailey had to start going for weekly heartbeat checks afterward; she suffered from depression, and it all ultimately changed her life. 

As time went on, Bailey learned more about her baby’s condition. Her baby had:

• Spina bifida
• Hydrocephalus
• Bilateral clubfoot
• Tetralogy of Fallot

And not long after, Bailey went into early labor. She was admitted into hospital before having a C-Section weeks later.

The good news is the baby boy made it. However, there were more complications for Bailey and fam ahead—her baby was born with VACTERL. Jump to today, and he’s had ten surgeries:

• Spinal surgery
• Open heart surgery
• Brain surgery
• And more…

The latest surgery took place in December, where he had a section of his bowels removed, a G-Tube put in place, and his bladder repaired.

As you can imagine, that means there’s constantly a lot of equipment on hand. For Bailey’s family, it’s difficult for them to now remain mobile and enjoy the outdoors. This is where WonderFold is stepping in. We’re also gifting Bailey and the family a W4 Elite Wagon. 

Nicole’s Story — A Valuable Surprise

We love it when our WonderFold wagons are surprises, and this is precisely what this wagon is; let’s take a look.

Nicole is a devoted mother facing an incredibly difficult journey. She’s traveling regularly to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Tennessee with her baby, who is just six months old and undergoing treatment, as well as her 8-year-old daughter, Tiar.

That’s right—Nicole doesn’t just have one child to care for on these intense trips. Managing two young children, navigating airports, and making frequent appointments is more than a full-time job—especially when you consider the extra items she has to bring, like a stroller and a car seat.

That’s why we were so honored to hear that her loved ones wanted to surprise her with a WonderFold wagon, and we were thrilled to help make that happen.

Brittany, Nicole’s supportive stepdaughter, let us know that a W4 Elite Wagon would be the perfect gift to help Nicole carry both children more comfortably while traveling. Since receiving the wagon just before Christmas 2022, Nicole shared that it’s been a tremendous help—especially during airport travel and hospital visits. The wagon has made things more manageable and helped keep both girls content and comfortable during this incredibly challenging time.

Nicole, we’re thinking of you, and we hope this wagon continues to make life just a little bit easier. And to Brittany—thank you for helping share the story and clearing up the details. We're so grateful to be a small part of your family's journey.

Tanya’s Story — Two Heroes. We Want to Give Back

This last story is about two veterans who’ve both served tours in the Iraq war. The first veteran is Tanya, and she’s had a tough year. 

She was recently diagnosed with an incredibly rare form of cancer. It stopped her from working, and she had to undergo chemo and radiotherapy to try and be rid of it.

There is good news to be had. Tanya is now cancer free! 

Yet, despite being a veteran and hero, she is not exempt from medical bills. 

Additionally, her husband is a veteran, too, who was medically discharged from the military after ten years of service. This was after having several back surgeries, which now means he struggles to help with his and Tanya’s children.

So we want to give the two heroes of this story a W2 Elite Stroller. We hope it gives you more chances to get the kids outside, take them to soccer games, and even the zoo! We wish you the best in your recovery Tanya and hope a wagon provides valuable memories with your family and kids. Thank your sister, Jennifer for giving us this opportunity to give back to you. 

Wonderfold Cares, and Here’s What We’re Doing to Help

That’s it for our WonderFold Cares stories. However, we’ll be busy going into 2023 supporting other families in need. If you think you or someone you know needs help, please fill out our WonderFold Cares form, and let us know what we can do. 

Alternatively, if you’re an everyday hero like the heroes in Jennifer and Mackenzie’s family, check out our exclusive Everyday Heroes Discount.

Finally, if you want to learn what else WonderFold has been doing to support our community, check out some of our other WonderFold Cares blog posts: 

• WonderFold Cares — November 2022
• WonderFold Cares — September 2022
• WonderFold Cares — August 2022
• WonderFold Cares — July 2022

Another month has gone by, and we’re hitting the heights of winter.

Lower temperatures, darker days, crispier skies, and blustery breezes. Yet with these hardships comes the crystalline joy and beautiful atmospheres of this end-of-year season. The holidays are coming around fast, and the WonderFold Cares program is in full motion helping those in need.

This month, we’ve been honored and privileged to donate several of our stroller wagons to those who need that extra bit of help.

Yet before we get into those stories, we’re also excited about some other happenings in the WonderFold world, too — like our recent WFhalloween costume contest (which was lots of fun!) and our introduction of the Wonderbowl. So, please do check out those stories if you want to learn more about them.

That said, here are some of the WonderFold Cares stories that we wanted to share from the past month:

Kaiden’s Story — A Family of Growing Triplets

Austin and his wife are a pair with a lot on their plate. They have three bright and brilliant young boys who are growing daily: Kaiden, Kallum, and Rowan.

However, there’s more to this story than meets the eye. Kaiden lives with a disability — Cerebral Palsy. He’s only two years old and has already had two open-heart surgeries.

Unfortunately, open heart surgeries don’t come cheap. Finances are spread thin, and it doesn’t help that Austin’s wife has stepped down from her job to attend to young Kaiden’s needs, ensuring he’s living his best life.

Meanwhile, Kaiden’s brother Kallum is growing too old to share the family’s current wagon with Kaiden and Rowan. He’s reaching that wandering phase of his life where there simply isn’t enough room in the wagon for him to spread his wings.

That said, it’s not like Austin and his wife can just pack up the wagon and let their children wander. Especially not with Kaiden. Kaiden can’t walk, and the fam is still waiting for his wheelchair to arrive before they can begin adventuring.

As you can no doubt imagine, visiting places like the zoo is quite difficult for Austin’s family.

This story went straight to our hearts, so we gifted Austin and the fam a brand new W4 Elite Wagon to help alleviate some of those struggles. We wanted to give the kids a chance to get out and enjoy the fresh air with room to move around in the wagon, and we really do hope it helps.

W4 Elite Stroller Wagon

The W4 stroller wagon measures an inside width of 33”x21”. It includes raised reclining seats, an adjustable canopy, and can seat up to 4 children.

In other words, it’s perfect for Austin and his wife to seat their three kids, with extra space on the side for additional storage.

Austin, we really hope this stroller wagon helps you spend more time with your children and relaxes some of your pressures. All the best from WonderFold!

Skylar’s Story — A Difficult Road for a Beautiful Soul

Little Skylar brings an aura of warmth wherever she goes. Her eyes and smile are intoxicating, and her laugh is contagious. She had the ingredients for a perfect upbringing, with life looking good for first-time parents Jim and Amanda.

Yet when Skylar was just six months old, Jim and Amanda realized their beautiful daughter was struggling. She stopped saying “Mama,” stopped babbling, and started to show the beginnings of having seizures. Poor Amanda was overwhelmed — for a first-time Mom, knowing what to do was challenging.

Little Skylar is four years old today. She uses braces to walk and can’t speak, and the frequency of her seizures is increasing. She has Rett Syndrome — a rare developmental and neurological disorder that makes breathing, eating, walking, and speaking difficult.

Those living with this disability need full-time medical supervision and home care.

Enjoying a happy life with Skylar is quickly growing difficult for Jim and Amanda. Yet, we want to make their journey as easy as possible, so we were compelled to contribute somehow. That’s why we decided to give Skylar and fam one of our W4 Elite Wagons. We know it won’t end their difficulties, but we hope it makes life easier for them.

Tripp’s Story — Frequent Travel With Difficult Transportation

Young Tripp and fam want to make happy memories. Yet, it’s difficult because Tripp was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

This means weeks of treatment and constantly changing amounts of energy for Tripp. Sometimes he can walk just fine, and other times he struggles to get off his feet — wanting nothing more than to sleep.

Yet, mother Carlie and Tripp’s family are constantly on the move. Tripp has weekly cancer treatments until July 2024, and on top of that, his family still wants him to get out for as much fresh air and exercise as possible.

However, Tripp’s younger sister is only four months old and is still too young to walk. Carlie doesn’t want her missing out when they take Tripp and fam out for fresh air, but when Tripp struggles to walk, there’s little room for him and his sister in an everyday stroller.

What’s more, Tripp doesn’t enjoy feeling like a baby when he has no choice but to be in an everyday stroller.

So we at WonderFold decided to give Tripp and fam a W2 Elite Wagon. We hoped to make life a little bit easier for them, and we’re glad to say that’s exactly what we did.

“WonderFold Wagon came to the rescue with the perfect wagon for our needs- and Tripp doesn’t feel like a baby riding in a stroller, so he loves it too! We are so very grateful to WonderFold Wagon for this very generous gift and for caring about their customers. We are so touched by their kindness! ❤️ ” — Carlie

Tree of Hope (Fundraising for Ronald McDonald House) — Candace’s Story.

Here’s a story we wanted to highlight: In August 2021, Candace Provost lost her sleeping angel. However, she’s keeping his memory alive by decorating a Christmas tree with both baby and kid-themed items. The tree will be raffled at the annual Tree of Hope event hosted by Ronald McDonald House, with all proceeds going to children needing that extra bit of help for improved well-being.

If you want to learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit their website for more information.

Toolbox For Those Living With Down Syndrome

The final story is a personal one of ours. At WonderFold, we’ve given ourselves a mission: to provide newborn babies (up to 2 years of age) living with down syndrome (DS) with a developmental therapy toolbox.

These toolboxes will include the following therapies:

• Physical therapies.
• Occupational therapies.
• Speech/feeding therapies.
• Music therapies.
• Sensory therapies.

The toolbox costs $150 to fill and ship, but we send them to families in need free of charge.

Here are some stats:

• We’ve sent out 130 boxes.
• We have 850 families still waiting to receive a box.

Unfortunately, we were unaware of how pressing the need for this box was within our community. Yet, we want to honor every family in need who has registered for the toolbox.

Therefore, we’ve donated a W2 Elite stroller to Houston DS Buddy Walk to help raise funds so we can provide more toolboxes for children living with down syndrome.

We’re WonderFold, And We Care

That’s it for our November 2022 stories. However, so many families are out there waiting for our help, and we’re doing everything we can to provide for them.

Why not check out some of our stories from previous months?

• WonderFold Cares September 2022.
• WonderFold Cares August 2022.
• WonderFold Cares July 2022.

If you’re located in the USA and are a family that needs that extra bit of help, you can also visit our WonderFold Cares program. Fill out the form and submit your story, and we’ll see what we can do to help.

See you next month!

Darkness and Halloween go hand in hand. But we wanted to focus on some light this spooky season. So, get out those flashlights, light those Jack-O-Lanterns, let's shine a little light in the darkness.

Our WonderFold Cares Program has been busy getting stroller wagons to 5 deserving families in time to celebrate fall festivities the very best way. WonderFold style. We are so thankful these families have given us the privilege to carry their most precious cargo in their time of need.

Meet Scout

Scout is a sweet one and a half year old girl fighting Stage 3 Germ Cell Cancer. She started her 4th and FINAL round of chemo the last week of October. She has to go back for scans mid-November, and we knew she needed a comfortable ride for all of her treatment and through the halls and a W2 Elite seemed the perfect fit for her and if she needed any equipment to tag along while impatient. Her grandmother has been kind enough to manage updates and keep us in the loop as much as possible. We are hoping for an amazing update on this most recent scan! You got this Scout!

Kimberley’s Strength

As a busy mom to two Warrior kiddos 4 and 5 Kimberley has her work cut out for her. Having been diagnosed with Papillary Carcinoma her life has gotten a bit crazier. Having treatment, and the side effects on top of being a single mom, we knew a W2 Elite would be the best way for her to transport her kiddos and be able to still be an active mom while going through treatment. We can only hope this small change to her routine will allow her, Abby and Malachi to enjoy more adventures as a family from now on.

Christina’s Caring Heart

We are always looking to help a family who simply just need to catch a break, Christina is such a giving person who always takes care of others. She is a mom of two beautiful girls and helps take care of her dad who was just diagnosed with cancer. With going back and forth to therapy for her daughter and doctor visits for her dad, an X4 is the perfect way to make sure her girls are transported and have a safe place to be during all the appointments whether for themselves or their grandfather.

Remembering June

Being a part of the community of medically complex children, we have sadly seen many families experience the loss of a child, unfortunately one of our recent recipients has experienced the loss of their daughter. June was a Cdls warrior and is survived by her parents, and her big brothers. Unfortunately, their W4 Elite came too late for June to be able to utilize it, but we hope her brothers forever feel like their sister June is along for the ride and with them in spirit on all their adventures. We are keeping them all in our thoughts and prayers.

Impact Beyond Borders

While we partner with many organizations, we have partnered many times with Auctions for Aspen, an organization that funds housing and education for some of Uganda's most at-risk youth and orphans. This most recent raffle where we donated an X2 raised a total of $23,399! We know this will be able to help house and educate the 5,000 children there and cannot wait to see more photos of the children we can help impact directly!

Want to Nominate a Family?

If you know a family struggling or are in need of a stroller wagon, please nominate them on our website at the Community tab> WonderFold Cares> and complete all fields to the best of your knowledge. Helping families have a WonderFold adventure together whether it's through the halls of a hospital, the grocery store, or the sidewalk trick or treating is why we do what we do. For families like YOU.  We are counting down to the end of the year, and we can't wait to see what November and December have in store for us and all of our deserving recipients!

We’d love to hear from you—leave a comment below to send encouragement, share your story, or let us know who we should help next.

WonderFold Fairy out!

Every month, the WonderFold office gets a little brighter as we send off our stroller wagons as part of WonderFold Cares program to families and organizations in need. So far this year, we have had the absolute privilege of donating 40 stroller wagons. And that number is only getting bigger as each month passes. 

New Partnerships This Month

Before we get to this month’s stories, WonderFold is thrilled to announce our partnership with more organizations as part of the program. This month, we partnered with the Waukesha Health Department of Health and Human Services and Variety - The Children’s Charity. Both organizations focus on children who have special needs. Check out their respective missions and donate!

What Is WonderFold Cares?

If you have been living under a rock, allow us to elaborate on WonderFold Cares. Our program was created to donate our stroller wagons to families and organizations. Parenting is hard and our children's needs demand a lot from us. And it has been and continues to be an honor to be able to alleviate the wonder that is parenting. If you are interested in how you or a loved one could potentially be gifted one of our stroller wagons, visit our WonderFold Cares page and submit your story. We would love to hear from you! Until then, here are some of the people who were gifted wagons the month of July!

The Lapinski Family – A Legacy of Service

The Matriarch of the Lapinski family loves her kids and her grandkids. Her son is a Medically Retired Disabled Marine Corps Combat Veteran. He served proudly with the Marine Special Operations Command for 11 years and had served in active duty for 14 years. Her daughter-in-law is a stay at home mother. With three children (and a fourth on the way!) the Lapinskis have got their hands full. The family has a six-year-old son with down syndrome and two daughters, who are three and one years old. For the Lapinskis, it seems life has just been piling with military service, deployments, tragedies, and extensive medical care for Dad and their son. Grandma had sent in their story to us in hopes of getting her grandbabies a stroller wagon to ease daily outings - especially with a fourth baby on the way. And living in the Midwest, the Lapinski family is determined to make the most out of the sunny days they have left before the winter chill. So the Lapinski family has been gifted a W4 Elite stroller wagon to ease the stress of taking out their kids. Plus, those Elite all-terrain wheels are absolutely perfect for those Midwestern terrains. 

Noah’s Journey Through Treatment

Diana’ daughter Tamara and her grandson Noah were submitted for a chance to win a stroller wagon. It was only in October of last year when Noah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For two years, Tamara will be having to take Noah back and forth from the hospital for his treatments. However, Noah is very frail. And treatment takes a toll on his little body. Diana wants a smooth and safe ride for her grandson to travel in as he goes to his treatments. Plus a stroller wagon would help Tamara a lot as she has to carry a lot of things every time they step out of their house including Noah’s medication. Before the diagnosis, Tamara and Noah loved to go to the park, zoo and beach. Now with their brand new X2 stroller wagon, Tamara and Noah’s outings won’t be as much of a stress.

Rebuilding After a Fire – Nevaeh’s Story

Nevaeh’s best friend submitted her for a WonderFold Wagon. The two love to go on mommy walks together with their little ones. Nevaeh’s son is only six months old. But since his birth, Neveah and her family have struggled. It was only one week after giving birth to her son when Nevaeh’s home burned down in a fire. And since then her family have been trying to rebuild their lives brick by brick. Nevaeh, her spouse and her son have been gifted a W1 stroller wagon to help them in rebuilding their lives after such a tragedy. 

The Simpson Family – Honoring the Past, Embracing the Present

Kelly submitted her own family for a chance of winning a stroller wagon. Kelly’s daughter is four years old and has down syndrome. Since she was born, she has been a ray of light in the Simpson household. Kelly and her partner’s first daughter was born with numerous medical complexities and cognitive delays. For four years, a large amount of time was spent on traveling to and from hospitals. Eventually, at just four years old, in 2015, Kelly’s daughter had passed away. It was a time of despair in the Simpson’s home. But in 2017, when the couple found out they had been blessed with another daughter, light entered their home once again. Having her second daughter fully recovered from open heart surgery at just four months, Kelly is determined to make the most with her daughter and take her to all the places they couldn’t with their first daughter. With their eyes set on a WonderFold wagon for quite some time, it was never the right time for the Simpson family. Kelly and her daughter can now make some beautiful memories together with their W1 stroller wagon! 

Six Under Six – The Gutschenritter Crew

The Gutschenritter house got a little crazy last December. It was a bit of a surprise to welcome triplet boys into the home; DOUBLING the amount of kids as they had 3 additional kids before the triplets were born. It’s officially six under six in the Gutschenritter house and five of whom are boys! The family loves to explore. They love to visit the local rivers and explore their town. But naturally, with six little kiddos, that can be a bit difficult. Having a WonderFold wagon would help the family greatly by allowing them space to put some of the kids along with the numerous bags they must be carrying for each child. The Gutschenritters were gifted an X4 stroller wagon for all their family adventures!

Wrapping Up July with Love

July may have been a hot one but at least the kids can stay cool in their brand new stroller wagons. Another month of WonderFold Cares giveaways is complete! If you or a loved one would like to submit a story to potentially win a WonderFold wagon in the upcoming months. We would love to hear from you! Simply, submit your story through our WonderFold Cares page and you or your loved one could have a chance at being gifted one of our stroller wagons! Until then, see you next month!

It’s July! The sun is shining. The sky is blue. And we have yet another month of the WonderFold Fairy dropping by the homes of some special families and organizations. In other words, it’s our favorite time of the month!

What Is WonderFold Cares?

If you were living under a rock and weren’t aware by now. WonderFold is honored to have our WonderFold Cares program where each month we gift wagons to charitable organizations and families in need. If you would like to nominate yourself or a loved one (whomever that may be), go onto our WonderFold Cares page and submit your story. We would love to hear from you! In the meantime, here are June’s recipients for WonderFold Cares!

Giving Back to Great Causes

Every month, we have the honor of contributing to charities. This month, we gifted a W2 Wagon for Raging Raymond’s Tournaments to benefit Nemours Children’s Health Deptford and Cherry Hill. Raymond is a young man who was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder and cerebral palsy. The organization is determined in raising money for kids like him! Check out their cause on their Facebook page at Raging Raymond 3rd Annual Fluke Tournament!

Second Chance of Palm Harbor was gifted an X2 Wagon as part of our program. Their mission is to raise money for their scholarship program for students and teachers to fund their classrooms, schooling, and extracurriculars. And a part of their proceeds will be going to a Homeless Empowerment Program. 

We also were honored to donate to five special families. Here are their stories!

Jeanette's Story – A Wagon for Three Adventurers

Jeanette Rojas submitted her own story on our WonderFold Cares pages as the mother of three beautiful children. Jeanette and her kids love outdoor activities. It’s summertime, after all! Jeanette’s toddler is only one and yet she loves to explore. A WonderFold Wagon is perfect for the kids to explore in but also perfect for when they need their rest. Unfortunately, as convenient a stroller wagon would be for Jeanette’s family, it was not in their budget at the time. Now Jeanette Roja can take her three kiddos on all their adventures with their brand new X4 Wagon!

Double the Miracles – Jennifer’s Family Grows by Two

Jennifer Neff submitted her daughter and son-in-law’s story for the program. The couple had been struggling with infertility for seven years. They were looking at adoption when the family was affected by a tragedy. This naturally delayed the adoption process. But…as fate would have it, as they were grieving, they found out they were pregnant. A ray of sunshine peeking through the gloomiest of days. And an even bonus, Jennifer’s son and his wife were also struggling to get pregnant. Four weeks later, they were pregnant as well. Jennifer, already playing the role of the loving grandmother, is determined to make the most out of the two miracles. The family wants to go on adventures together with getaways and vacations. With two babies on the way, Jennifer felt a WonderFold Wagon would be perfect for family vacations. Jennifer’s daughter and son with their respective partners were gifted an X2 Wagon this month and something tells us that those two babies are going to be best friends. 

Julie nominated herself for a wagon for her adorable two-year-old son, Max. Max was born without one of his legs. Max, only a little toddler, is currently adjusting to his prosthetic leg and, day by day, is learning how to walk. But a wagon would be perfect for the tired moments in between to rejuvenate little Max and preserve his energy as he is learning. Julie and Max were gifted an X2 wagon for their adventures and we wish Max the best of luck in this next challenge!

Supporting Foster Families – The Foster Care Auxiliary

Lorinda Tucker nominated the Foster Care Auxiliary. The organization, led by Kathy Harvey, is based out of Anaheim, California where their cause is rooted in taking care of foster children. Both Lorinda and Kathy put a large part of themselves in the organization and even in their home where they have adopted and fostered children in their personal life. At work, they spend countless hours dedicating their time to other fostering families. The organization ensures that foster children have access to absolute necessities such as clothing, food, toiletries, diapers, and formula. The Foster Care Auxiliary also provides birthday gifts and holiday gifts for the kids in their programs. In her story, Lorinda mentioned the organization’s upcoming Christmas Auction and considered a Wonderfold Wagon as a potential giveaway for their cause. Lorinda herself has six childrens all under the age of eight. Imagine how much a WonderFold Wagon could benefit one of these families. WonderFold Cares donated a X4 Wagon to The Foster Care Auxiliary for their cause in delivering for these deserving foster families. 

Lacey & Josh – A Military Family’s Story of Strength

Lacey and Josh have a wonderful family with three children keeping them more than busy. Josh is in the Air Force and the family is currently stationed just outside of New York. The family was shaken when Josh was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He has since undergone surgery to remove the tumor but that unfortunately left him partially blind and walker/wheelchair dependent. Lacey and Josh also have a 5 year old, Lincoln, who has special needs and is mostly nonverbal. Before Josh’s diagnosis, the two balanced their parenting to take care of Lincoln and his needs. Now with Josh’s circumstances, Lacey is now supermom in keeping the family together. With tending to both Lincoln and Josh plus their two other children, Lacey definitely has her hands full at the moment. With a WonderFold Wagon, Lacey will have a place to keep Lincoln safe plus added room for items needed for Josh’s care. The family was gifted an X2 Wagon for their family outings!

Want to Nominate Someone?

Another month down! We love to see it. We hope these wonderful people love their brand new wagons. These organizations and families are amongst so many deserving people. If you or a loved one or even a complete stranger who’s struggling are in need of a WonderFold Wagon to aid parents and perhaps make things a little bit easier, submit through our WonderFold Cares page. We love to hear your stories. See you in August!

It’s our favorite time of the month again. WonderFold Cares has developed so much and we couldn't be more grateful to give to more families in need. If you or a loved one is in need of one of our Wonderful Wagons, submit a story! We would love to hear from you and hopefully you or your loved one will be selected to win one of our stroller wagons. For the month of April, we had the honor of giving stroller wagons to multiple families and organizations. 

Giving Back to Nonprofits That Matter

WonderFold has had the privilege of donating to numerous nonprofits and organizations where we gifted outr W1 models for auctions for organizations such as the Chicago Autism Light It Up Blue Event; the TCP Care Auction where Wonderfold was actually one of the top three performers and was able to raise $5000 to help those diagnosed with Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy; the Charlotte Schwieger Leukemia Auction; and Gigi’s Playhouse.

Here are some of the stories from our recipients last month:

Jessica’s Growing Family of 6

Jessica is one busy woman. With her fourth children coming this July, her and her husband have a lot on their plate. That’s why Jessica’s best friend nominated her for a WonderFold Wagon. The two women have been best friends since they were five. That is 24 years of non stop laughter, support and love. The two met in pre-school and are now navigating the tribulations of adulthood and motherhood. Jessica is now a full-time mom after being a preschool teacher and her husband wears a lot of hats - namely, a fulltime firefighter, EMT, an ER psych department employee and a basketball coach. Phew! That’s a lot of hats! And we also cannot forget that, even while pregnant and being a mom of three, Jessica offers to help other families who may be returning back to the office with childcare. This couple doesn’t stop! But everyone needs some rest and relaxation, especially this couple. They love to have walks in the park, go to the pond and do some fishing, and visit their dad at the fire station. With three babies and a fourth one on the way, there aren’t a lot of options for larger families. And with Jessica and her husband’s hands so full, they deserve to have them free on their family outings. Which is perfect with their brand new X4 Stroller Wagon! With the weather being warmer and a July baby, this family is gonna have a great summer. 

The Rijksens' Brave Journey for Lunah

The Rijksens have traveled a long way for their family. The family emigrated from Aruba to the United States in search of better healthcare opportunities for their daughter Lunah. Lunah had been denied life-saving interventions, including a heart repair procedure, in the Netherlands and Colombia. In Aruba, even with socialized medical insurance, Lunah with her T18 diagnosis have not been able to get the treatments that she needed in time. The Rijksens had to leave their entire life including their other kids and family back in Aruba for the care of little Lunah. But everyone is on the same page that Lunah’s recovery is top priority. The family made the move to the US in 2016 and since then, Lunah is getting the care that she desperately needed in Utah. Though there are still some uncertainties with Lunah’s medical challenges. Despite her medical journey, Lunah is happy and healthy and loves to be outdoors. The Rijksens want Lunah to live her life to the fullest. Wonderfold gifted the Rijksens a W1 Stroller Wagon for Lunah and all her adventures.

Ashley’s Adventures While Dad’s Away

Ashley Surch is a mother of two little kiddos with a spouse in the military. While her partner is deployed, Ashley loves to take her children out on adventures. To the park, museums, pools, the world’s their oyster. And we love to see it. With a partner that’s away all the time, it’s tough being alone with two children. The Surches were gifted a X2 Stroller Wagon for all their adventures.

The Ebojo Family’s Strength Through Struggles

Angie and her husband and their two kiddos, Gianna and Ronan, are a military family who are simply trying to make ends meet. Ronan is almost two but had a terrifying experience at the start of his life. He was only three days old when he was rushed to the hospital and kept in the PICU for almost a month. After months of countless tests, Ronan was diagnosed with Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia which is a rare metabolic disorder. The first year of Ronan’s life was tough to say the least and it led Angie to staying at home to be with the kids. And with her husband being deployed and living on a single income, the Ebojo’s are making the most out of their situation. Ronan continues to surprise his family and is taking on his medical challenges on the chin. In June of last year, Ronan was diagnosed with another rare disease - Kawasaki disease. With all the therapy, tests, and numerous doctor’s visits, Ronan’s first two years of his life hasn't been the easiest. And being a military family, the Ebojo’s don’t have a lot of family close by making trips to the doctors a little harder as little Gianna joins them. Taking two kids, along with all of their belongings, including medications is a lot on Angie. But with their brand new W2 Stroller Wagon, the Ebojo’s trips to the doctors will be a little bit easier.

Want to Nominate Someone?

Whew! Another month down, folks! If you or a loved one - whomever that may be, are in need of a WonderFold Wagon, we would love to hear from you. Submit your story here. Parenting is hard enough and without some resources, it can further push us. A WonderFold wagon can make it a little bit easier. I said a “little bit”. See you again in May!

t’s that time again! The WonderFold Fairy got a chance to flutter its little wings and give a little gift for five different families every month. 

Why We Started WonderFold Cares

It’s hard enough being a parent and keeping a roof over your and your family’s head. We get it. Wonderfold Cares is a program that we started to help families in need. If you or a family member, friend, spouse, co-worker, neighbor, etc is in need of a WonderFold Wagon, we would love to hear your story and maybe the WonderFold Fairy will make a visit in the coming months.

Meet This Month’s Families

This month we got to give a wagon to five different families who were in need of one of our stroller wagons. Here are some of their stories!

The Houghton Family: A Heart for Fostering

Kate Houghton’s sister decided to submit her sister and her brother-in-law, Jeremy, for the WonderFold Cares program. Kate always wanted to adopt. She even tried to convince her parents to adopt another sibling. Kate has a big heart and always wants to share the love with those in duress. A little over six years ago, Kate and Jeremy adopted little baby Olive. They ended up fostering four babies, eventually they were able to adopt two of them to the family. And now they are fostering two more babies. Everything was initially set to adopt the first child, but Kate and Jeremy had been surprised to find out that the baby had a sister also in foster care. Foster care and adoption comes with a lot of responsibilities and a lot of emotional weight. But Kate and Jeremy, being the loving parents they are, have never faltered. 

Kate and Jeremy love to take their family on outings. Kate’s sister said in her submitted story, “their sweet family…is always doing their best to soak in the beauty of our city as my sister is incredibly intentional about introducing her children to the beauty and culture and educational opportunities our city has to offer.” Naturally, with such a large family, this comes with its own challenges. The Houghtons were gifted a W4 wagon for all their excursions. We wish this lovely family the best of luck on their adoption and fostering journey.

The Guerreo Family: Rising from Hardship

Jesus Guerreo and his wife have a family of five that was hit devestatingly by the pandemic. The pandemic affected many families all over the world, unemployment was high, and the Guerreo’s were one of many who had to file for bankruptcy. The family unfortunately lost their home and car. With the excess of bills on top of bills, the couple couldn’t afford groceries. Come later in 2020, the Guerreo family was given another surprise. Jesus’s wife was pregnant was a baby girl, their third child. The pregnancy was unexpected to say the least. The Guerreo’s were excited for their little girl but were worried about their financial state and how they would welcome a new baby into their family. And being a family of five in a one bedroom apartment, it’s pertinent for this family to get out as much as possible. And the Guerreos are nothing but determined! When life knocks you down, you get back up. The family of five may live within tight financial limits but they are a happy and loving family. For their daily outings, the family has had their eye on WonderFold for a minute but it was never the right time. But now the Guerreos have been gifted a W4 Stroller Wagon for all their outings together as a family! And we at WonderFold wish the Guerreo family the best of luck for the future.

Magnolia’s Journey: Fighting Rare Cancer with Sunshine

Magnolia White was only 4 and a half years old when she suffered through an hour-long seizure on June 22, 2021. After the scary episode her parents took her to the doctors where it was revealed she had a tumor behind her left ear. The tumor showed that little Maggie has a rare cancer called CNS neuroblastoma. Only twenty kids in the past ten years have been diagnosed with the disease. Thankfully, the tumor was quickly removed. But Maggie still had to undergo three different conditioning chemotherapy treatments and two more rounds of extreme chemo. Obviously, this puts a lot of stress on Maggie’s body. The little girl is pushing through the treatments but is still coming home exhausted. Due to her chemotherapy, Magnolia has been suffering one of the side effects called “foot drop” which prevents her from walking well. And little Maggie has to go to the hospital every other day. With her difficulty walking, her parents needed a way to get her around. They can’t carry her with the installed tubes in her chest and stomach and Maggie is too big for a regular stroller. Maggie loves being outside, her illness is a hindrance. Magnolia and her family have been given a W2 Stroller Wagon. With the Stroller Wagon, Maggie and her family can make up for lost time and get to enjoy their freedom and a little sunshine during this time in their life!

Share Your Story with WonderFold Cares

Every family has a story to share. If you or someone you love is in need of one of our WonderFold Stroller Wagons, we would love to hear from you! All you need to do is go to our WonderFold Cares page and submit!

As 2021 comes to an end we have been gearing up for the greatest season of giving WonderFold has ever seen. While visions of sugar plums danced in your heads, we thought how can we make our vision BIGGER?!

WonderFold at the Zoo: A Magical Day to Remember

To kick off our season of giving we planned an event at the Los Angeles Zoo, and who better to give WonderFold Wagons away than our very own WonderFold Fairy….

Meet the WonderFold Fairy

The WonderFold Fairy waved her magic wand and gave away a total of TWENTY-FIVE wagons, thousands in gift cards, and tons of WF swag to lucky families.
Needless to say, our first-ever WonderFold Fairy event was a HUGE success—and the smiles said it

Not only do we want to help families make memories like at the zoo event, but we also want to help families who have hit a hard place in life financially.

WonderFold Cares: Supporting Families in Need

Whether the financial struggle came from the pandemic, being a military family with limited resources, or a family with a special needschild. We want to be able to help. We have had thousands of people write in to nominate a friend or family member for our WonderFold Cares program.

Reading each one of these submissions made us realize we wanted to help as many as possible. That is why we choose families like a sweet 9 year old girl who recently lost her ability to walk. Upon being discharged after two long months in the hospital we wanted to help give her mom a piece of mind and an easier time transporting her. Having a W4 Quad Stroller Wagon, her mom is now able to take her out by herself again along with anything she may need. We look forward to hearing more about their adventures and all of the places their WonderFold will take them!

Nominate a Family or Organization in Need

If you or someone you know is in need of a WonderFold Wagon and don’t see it in the cards financially for whatever reason, please nominate on our website at WonderFold Cares. We are also always looking for amazing organizations to partner with to help on a more personal level. If you or a close friend or family member have been assisted by an organization we would love to get in touch! Please email hello@wonderfold.com and include as much contact information as possible for us to reach out!

Last month we were blown away by the number of families who reached out to nominate their local charities and organizations. We love hearing stories about people and groups that go above and beyond to help our WonderFold Fam. We have to agree they are pretty fabulous!!!

Giving Back to Families and Organizations

That’s why we are gifting not only directly to families but to well-deserving groups too! We feel connected to each family we read about, each submission tells a different story, even if for the same family.

June Highlights: Families We’re Honoring

Here are a few stories submitted that were selected for the month of June.

Argentinia & Her 21-Month-Old Son

"I nominate myself for my 21-month-old special needs son. He has hydrocephalus, cortical visual impairment, epilepsy, and asthma. This wagon will change our lives! Currently struggling to carry all of his equipment around that a normal stroller just isn't compatible for his needs. He does not have head or trunk control so this wagon will allow him to lay down comfortably all while having space for his oxygen monitor and suction machine. Currently don't have the funds to purchase this amazing wagon since we pay a lot for medications and other things. A mother shouldn't have to stress about having a compatible stroller for their child, all while having to worry about the medical issues going on with their baby. If I'm chosen I would be incredibly grateful and our life will be changed." - Argentinia Daniels

Alondra: A Preemie Warrior’s Journey

"I would like to nominate my daughter Alondra. She is a true preemie warrior, born at 24-ish weeks, and has overcome many MANY big scares! On 12/07/2020, I was admitted to the hospital due to significant high blood pressure and the beginning stages of kidney failure. My OB informed me I would now live the rest of my pregnancy in the hospital. As days go on my blood pressure, headaches and kidneys were getting worse, even after multiple changes in medication regimens. On 12/18/2020, I began having decelerations and it was decided that I would need to have an emergency C-section. I had “one of the worst cases” my OB has ever taken on. My beautiful baby girl Alondra Marie came into this world weighing in at 1.12lbs and measuring 12.25 inches. Praying every day, she has overcome some tough moments. She has been currently diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, Staphylococcus aureus, Patent ductus arteriosus, needed PDA heart Ligation, over 5 blood transfusions, PT/ OT, and laser eye surgery, among other procedures.

My husband and I know that we are in for the long haul even once going home, we will have multiple appointments including possibly having a trach tube (still in discussion with her specialist), speech therapy, ophthalmology, and PT/OT. We would love to have her live the best “normal” life possible but understand that it will not be easy and having to carry her, her medical supplies, and her diaper bag. Having a WonderFold wagon would benefit us so much, we are often carrying so much in and out of the hospital. We would love to walk her around the hospital but cannot be due to not having something that can hold her portable ventilator and car seat all at the same time without worrying about someone walking ahead/ behind potentially disconnecting and important machinery to her health.

Funny story my 9 y/o son drew a picture of her in a pink wagon, when we came across Wonderfold's page, he said “mom that’s it! That’s the one that I can help and push my sister in!” Even my 14 y/o son said, “mom that would make your life so much easier, I know you are worried about even just leaving home!” Sadly, he is right, I cannot even begin to think of how I will get around with everything she needs without me huddled over her every second.
At the moment, we do not have the means for a WonderFold, as we are overwhelmed with medical bills, home bills and maintenance, and unexpected expenses.

Having a WonderFold wagon would change not only Alondra’s life but all our lives, we would be able to help her live her best life and making all of us smile being able to enjoy our outings and making new memories together as a family of 5." -Josefina Guitierrez

Henry’s Story: A Big Brother in the Making

“Morgan’s son Henry has Angelman Syndrome, which is a rare neurogenetic disorder. He has delays in physical and cognitive abilities. Henry is unable to walk or talk. The first year of Henry’s life was extremely difficult trying to figure out what the issue was. He saw doctors in TN, KY, and OH. While awaiting the results of genetic testing, Henry had several hospitalizations, surgeries, specialists, and therapies. Henry is now established as a patient at Vanderbilt. Since they live in Kentucky, there are lots of trips back and forth that place constant financial pressure on the family. In addition to Henry’s complex medical needs, the family is excited for Henry to become a big brother in September. Henry’s lack of mobility coupled with the addition of a new baby, Morgan has been looking for a solution to be able to transport both children while keeping as much of Henry’s independence as possible. They want him to still feel like a “big boy” and have a safe and comfortable place to sit. This wagon would do just that! She has been saving for months, but this becomes less of a priority when other appointments arise. Thank you for considering my dear friend!” -Lauren McQueary, friend of the family.

Supporting the Special Needs Community

We were also able to support multiple other organizations this quarter with various donations, and look forward to building relationships with other organizations that have supported our Special Needs Community! If you or someone you know have worked with an organization that you think would benefit from a donation of a WonderFold Wagon, please reach out to specialneeds@wonderfold.com and we would love to discuss it further! Our goal is to raise awareness and help as many families as possible live their best WonderFold lives.

Know an organization that could use a WonderFold Wagon?

If you would like to nominate someone for our WonderFold Acts of Kindness program, please feel free to click the link below and give us as much information as possible! We wish we could pick everyone, and try to do our best to pick families we feel whose lives can be changed with one of our stroller wagons and for whatever reason are unable to financially afford one at this moment.

A WonderFold Act Of Kindness

Our goal for our WonderFold Acts of Kindness is to provide families who need it most with the stroller wagon of their dreams. With the help of our amazing customers, we have been able to gift a total of 17 stroller wagons this year to deserving families! This month a few families were sweet enough to share their touching stories.

The Krieger Family

“The Kriegers are one of the most inspirational families I know. In 2017 their third child, Fritz, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - a terminal illness with no cure... yet! This news hit them hard. It hit their whole "village" hard and they have quite the village.

Their grief did not stop them from living life. Within months of Fritz's diagnosis, they started a non profit (Fritz and Friends) to raise money for research in order to find a cure for Duchenne. This non profit has been very active reaching people all over their country. Sarah shares the most intimate parts of their lives with their followers. She lets us into the good times and the difficult ones. It's raw and it's real.

At 5 years old, Fritz's muscles are already deteriorating which prevents him from walking very far and keeping up with his two older brothers and younger sister. This wagon would allow the Kriegers to continue living life to the fullest... to continue their adventure filled life. It would allow Fritz to experience those adventures instead of being left behind.
I cannot think of a more worthy family.”-Laura Blank friends of the Kreiger Family

The Clark Family

“I want to nominate myself. Motherhood has been quite a journey for me. I met the love of my life and we started a family almost instantly. Three months after my beautiful daughter was born she passed away from SIDS. Soon after that I brought my second child into the world, my son. Through all the ups and downs of being a second-first time mom I have learned nothing but appreciation for the little ray of sunshine he is. I am currently pregnant with her third child. As excited as we are, Pregnancy after loss is always hard. And during this COVID-19 pandemic, things are even harder. Both my husband and I are healthcare workers, we are both respiratory therapist working hard to help those with COVID-19. We Risk our lives every day with high exposure rates within our field. Having a wonderfold wagon to stroll our kids around in would absolutely make our year!! My little guy loves to be outside and enjoying outdoor time with him really takes away the stresses and pressures of this crazy world. Sincerely hoping to be one of the lucky few :)”

Angelina and Jeremy

“My good friend Angel and her husband Jeremy went through years of infertility after the birth of their 1st child together. They exhausted all options and was on the path to IVF. They conceived triplets their first round of IVF meds. We are so excited for them and know this would be a godsend to them. Angel is a front-line essential worker and has worked her booty off while pregnant with triplets. She deserves the chance to win this wonderful wagon as its high on her wish list and with everything she has went through, the high risk pregnancy, working the front lines during a pandemic pregnant with triplets, all the extra doctors appointments, the cost of everything for triplets, the chance to win this would be amazing for them as I know they have been saving every chance they can. They really like the option to cover the triplets with the see through cover to keep them healthy while not being able to wear a mask at such a young age. Thanks again for considering them. They truly are great people!”-Kayte Drew friend of Angelina

We were also able to support multiple other organizations this quarter with various donations, and look forward to building relationships with other organizations that have supported our Special Needs Community! If you or someone you know have worked with an organization that you think would benefit from a WonderFold Wagon, please reach out to specialneeds@wonderfold.com and we would love to discuss it further! Our goal is to raise awareness and help as many families as possible live their best WonderFold lives. 

If you would like to nominate someone for our WonderFold Cares program, please feel free to click the link below and give us as much information as possible! We wish we could pick everyone, and try to do our best to pick families we feel who’s lives can be changed with one of our stroller wagons.

WonderFold Cares Program 

Thank you to everyone who has supported us and helped us make this program possible! We are so grateful for all of you!

We have been able to gift a total of 11 wagons for our WonderFold Cares program so far! Our winners have been chosen and notified via email and were gracious enough to let us share some of their stories that stole our hearts.

A Wagon That Brought Joy to the Lopez Family

“We got our WonderFold Wagon in the mail today and we are so amazed by how incredible it is and how well it fits our families needs. My kids absolutely loved riding in it and I love having something that fits all my kids- and especially the support it gives Zailee! We can’t thank you enough for blessing our family!”- The Lopez Family | 

Amber’s Strength Through Her Daughter’s Battle

“My family has been hit by a lot. September of 2019 one of my twin daughters was diagnosed with leukemia. Only a month later we found out we were expecting. During the course of her treatment my daughter has lost her ability to walk on and off and has a walker and will be getting leg braces. She gets tired so easily. I am in need of a wagon to get her to her doctor appts and physical and occupational therapies. She still has over a year of chemotherapy and constant treatments that will hinder her ability to walk and have the energy to move. Along with her I have two other older children and an infant son that needs to have a place to sit while I'm pushing his sister for everything. We have tried a double stroller but it was not successful.”- Amber Doring 

Nicole’s Growing Army Family of 5

“My husband was in the US Navy, and was supposed to make a seamless transition from the Navy to the Army in June 2020. Because of COVID, he was forced to get out of the Navy completely, and he spent 6 months as a civilian waiting for paperwork to go through. He is now in bootcamp for the next 22 weeks, and I will be having our 3rd child in 20 weeks. Soon after I deliver, we will find out where we are going to be stationed (which will most likely not be anywhere near my family). My family would benefit greatly from this W4 as we take on this new adventure as an Army family of 5!”- Nicole Angus

The Beudert Family: Heroes in Their Community

I don't know if there is enough words to talk about Eileen and Jason Beudert! Eileen and Jason are the Executive Director of A Special Wish Foundation, Cleveland Chapter. A Special Wish Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening disorder. Eileen didn't just stop with granting big wishes for kids, she took it to the next level with the Sparkles of Joy Program. Sparkles of Joy Program is a ground-breaking program focused on creating experiences across Northeast Ohio for wish children who are immune-compromised. From VIP days at Build a Bear, to date nights for parents, to Cleveland sport tickets, Eileen works to provide positive memories for the entire family. In addition, Eileen and her team deliver delicious meals to inpatients and their families through Cleveland restaurants she has partnered with. Eileen and Jason even are sure to hand deliver food and treats to inpatient families during every holiday. Eileen and Jason both have the biggest hearts for children. Her face just lights up when she is around her Special Wish kids or letting her group of nieces and nephews volunteer at events. Their journey to growing their own family has had a lot of heart break and loss. Yet, miraculously, they were unexpectedly given the opportunity to adopt their now son Gus. They heard about Gus in the NICU and didn't even think twice about running to the hospital to become his forever family. Even after Gus's adoption and long NICU stay, Eileen and Jason didn't slow down in serving their community. Gus attends special events, parties, and even helps his parents with hospital food deliveries. He has truly become the A Special Wish Mascots. When my daughter was in the hospital for a month fighting a brain tumor, Eileen and Jason came to our aide. They provided us with meals in the hospital and so many reasons to smile. A few weeks after our daughters discharge we had to travel to finalize the adoption of our special needs son. It was a tough year finically, emotionally, and spiritually. That Christmas Eileen found a company to sponsor our family and provide gifts to our children. It was seriously the most wonderful way to take holiday stress away and create a Christmas to remember. Eileen and her team continue to serve our family with help, support, and opportunities to make memories with our kids. Eileen has mentioned to me a number of times how much she wants to try and win a WonderFold Wagon on Instagram. I can't tell you how many times I have entered trying to win for her. Right now I know they would use their wagon to cart Gus around along with all their food deliveries, toy donations, or special event supplies. However, in the future I know Eileen and Jason hope to have a wagon full of kiddos!” -Hannah Bradford who nominated The Beudert Family

Supporting Special Needs Organizations, Too

We were also able to support multiple other organizations this quarter with various donations, and look forward to building relationships with other organizations that have supported our Special Needs Community! If you or someone you know have worked with an organization that you think would benefit from a donation of a WonderFold Wagon, please reach out to specialneeds@wonderfold.com and we would love to discuss it further! Our goal is to raise awareness and help as many families as possible live their best WonderFold lives.

Nominate Someone for WonderFold Cares

If you would like to nominate someone for our WonderFold Cares program, please feel free to click the link below and give us as much information as possible! We wish we could pick everyone, and try to do our best to pick families we feel who’s lives can be changed with one of our stroller wagons and for whatever reason are unable to financially afford one at this moment. WonderFold Cares

Honoring Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month

The month of September was Pediatric Cancer Awareness month. And this cause is something that means a lot to us in the WonderFold Wagon family. 

The Reality: Childhood Cancer by the Numbers

43 children are diagnosed with cancer everyday in the US, while more than 40,000 children undergo treatment for cancer each year. The children who survive are twice as likely to suffer from chronic conditions following remission.

Unfortunately, only 4% of the annual budget for the National Cancer Institute is towards childhood cancer research.

Supporting the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation

This is why we have chosen to donate our wagon to the auction hosted by the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. PCRF is a pioneer in eliminating childhood cancer through their ability to identify and fund cutting edge research. They exclusively target funds toward emerging and breakthrough opportunities.

Donation to Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

We have also donated to the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for children to use for transportation during treatment. Lurie Children is relentlessly pursuing better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat childhood illnesses and support their patients and families. They are on a mission to provide the promise of a cure, a safer space, and a healthier future for every child.

Every Wagon Makes a Difference

We are so happy our wagons can be used to provide a safe and comfortable space for little ones everywhere.

We love hearing from YOU about where we should donate next! If you have any ideas of organizations or charities that would benefit from our program, please reach out to us at specialneeds@wonderfold.com.

Supporting UCI Medical Staff

We wanted to do something special for our local healthcare workers at the UCI Medical Center. 

About UCI Medical Center’s Impact

UCI Medical Center is the region’s only Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, as well as being the region’s only high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and maternal fetal transport system. They also have 30 licensed beds in their level III NICU. 

Supporting New and Expecting ICU Parents

Over 10 ICU staff members are currently expecting or are new parents and what better way to pay it forward than starting with those who help our friends and family when they need it the most! 

Partnering with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation

We also had the opportunity to donate to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. They are dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through Research, Medical Care, Education and Advocacy. 

The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show

They have an annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion show that is a HUGE event that includes a fashion show and a silent auction. Even celebrities show their support by attending! We had the pleasure of donating to their silent auction to help raise funds for their amazing cause. 

Want to Get Involved?

Want to learn more? Head over to their website and get involved today!

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While this year’s fourth of July was filled with popsicles and fireworks, WonderFold Wagon celebrated a little differently this year. With our recent launch of our Special Needs Program, we are so proud that we have been able to help many families create amazing memories together. As our mission is to bring families closer together and make every moment matter, we want to share how we've been giving back to our WonderFold community. Aside from our Special Needs Program, every month we have been donating to non profit/charitable organizations that align with our mission. We want to help raise awareness for their cause and celebrate their hard work.

Last month, we were truly inspired by the family in our first Feature Friday post. We donated to an amazing organization that directly helps those who rock an extra chromosome! Trisomy 21, or more commonly known as Down Syndrome, is a genetic disorder where a person is born with three copies of the 21st chromosomes rather than two. Fun fact: one in every 691 babies born in the United States is born with Down syndrome, which makes it the most common chromosome abnormality.

The National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) is the oldest organization in the United States to serve those who have been born with Down syndrome and their families. Their mission is to support all persons with Down syndrome in achieving their full potential. They provide families with resources to enable them to access and evaluate appropriate services, educate the public about Down syndrome, address social policy issues and challenges facing the Down syndrome community, and more!

One program that NADS offers is called the NADS Parent Support Program, where a family delivering a baby with Down syndrome will receive a basket full of books about Down syndrome, gifts for the new parents and baby, and other resources to help them prepare for their adventure as a new family.

They are not only enriching the lives of people with Down syndrome, they are also helping their families thrive! 

We are so happy to have donated to this amazing cause and bring awareness to their organization. To learn more about NADS, please take a moment to visit www.NADS.org.

Is there an organization you love that may benefit from our donation? Let us know by visiting our WonderFold Cares page and submitting a nomination!