VPG Supports Team Brave Like Ben: Sweetened with a Little Extra Purpose
Years ago, when I was a brand-new construction litigation paralegal, unsure of my place and still finding my footing, Mike took a chance on me. He didn't have to. But he did, and his no-nonsense approach and the confidence he helped me build in those early days became the foundation for much of what I've built since. Mentorship like that doesn't fade. It just waits quietly for the moment you get to pass it forward.
That moment is NOW.
Mike's grandson, Ben, is turning 2 on September 28, 2026, and this year, his birthday falls the day after the CHOP Parkway Run & Walk. Ben was recently diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and in the blink of an eye, his family's world reordered itself around hospital stays, treatment schedules, and they found courage none of them asked to need. His parents, Andrea and Andrew, and his big sisters, Brynn and Kendall, have held on to hope and to each other. And Ben, full of energy, curiosity, and a love of cars, ball-throwing, and keeping up with his sisters, has met every hard day with a spirit that leaves everyone around him in awe.
I have already donated; however, I want to do more. I enjoy supporting local bakers (Treatsandsweets4u), and they are supporting my vision with cookies featuring characters from my own book and workbook on multigenerational leadership (The Leadership Catalyst and Transform Thinking, Transform Life): a hybrid raccoon and friends who represent the full span of today's workforce, from Gen X to Gen Alpha. These characters were illustrated by Alyssa Gangaram and my workbook was co-authored with Brenna Holland. It feels fitting: those characters exist to tell a story about generations showing up for one another, learning from one another, and carrying each other forward. Mike showed up for a Gen Xer just starting her career. Now that same spirit shows up for a Gen Alpha toddler just starting his life.
Every cookie sold is a small, sweet way of saying, "We see you, Ben." We see your family. And we're here to support.
100% of proceeds from the cookie sale will go directly to CHOP, in honor of Ben's 2nd birthday, supporting the doctors, nurses, and entire care team who show up for him with extraordinary skill and compassion every single day. Alternatively, you may donate directly to https://chop.donordrive.com/teams/Brave-Like-Ben.
Mike gave me a foundation to build a career on. Today, I'm asking you to help me give Ben and his family something just as lasting: hope, healing, and the very best chance to thrive.