Meet Nikki Logsdon | Connor’s Mom & President of CHARGE for Connor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki Logsdon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikki, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
We started the process of forming the CHARGE for Connor Non-profit Organization a few months after Connor passed away in 2014. I wanted to find a way to keep his memory alive as well as help other children. Connor was special and although his life was short I knew it had purpose beyond his 15 months on Earth. I felt passionate for supporting the organizations that had been instrumental in our journey while also being able to assist individual families raising a child with CHARGE. The idea of CHARGE for Connor was born and it’s become a beautiful legacy celebrating Connor’s impact. Some of the work we are most proud of is partnering with the national CHARGE Syndrome Foundation, supporting the only CHARGE Center in the world at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, establishing a scholarship program to help CHARGE families attend the International CHARGE Conference, and creating a program for families new to the CHARGE community to receive a gift box.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The career trade that I went to college for and spent the first chunk of adulthood practicing is physical therapy. For years this was my passion and provided an extensive healthcare background for the medical journey we walked during Connor’s life. While I still maintain my physical therapy license my efforts now focuses on raising our two young girls, Elliot and Sloane, running the CHARGE for Connor Organization, serving on a few local school and hospital boards, and running another small business. I think the variety of areas I have spent my time and efforts in has allowed me to be flexible, learn lots of new skills, share my areas of knowledge with others, and constantly grow. While learning new things can be challenging and often scary it’s exciting and intriguing. In the coming years I hope to continue to grow the CHARGE for Connor Non-profit Organization using skills I have learned in these other walks of life so our footprint can be even further reaching.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While I live in Cincinnati Ohio I was fortunate enough to make my first visit to LA last year during the Super Bowl. There were so many amazing areas to explore, people to meet and restaurants to eat at that I feel like I barely scratched the surface and I’ll absolutely need to make another trip. My favorite experience was at Trocadero on Sunset. This restaurant is owned by Domata Peko and his wife Anna. Peko is a former Bengal players so as a Cincinnati (and huge Bengals fan) I was over the moon to visit his spot and hang out with Peko and his wife. The food, drinks, and service were all wonderful.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
After losing Connor we received amazing support from our family, friends, and the CHARGE community. I brought the idea of starting a non-profit to my husband, Josh and he immediately supported my dream and helped me put the pieces in motion. My mom, Peggy has worked tirelessly to support me, honor her grandson, and grow the organization doing every job imaginable for CHARGE for Connor. Through the years our tribe continues to be the backbone of our organization. We do not have any paid employees and almost every ounce of work done for our organization is by a family member or friend.

Website: www.chargeforconnor.org

Instagram: Charge for Connor

Facebook: Charge for Connor

Image Credits
Shine On Photography