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

Hi Ron, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My “business” is a non-profit charity called “Alice’s Kids.” Our mission is to enhance the self-esteem of children in need by providing them targeted, anonymous financial assistance. Many charities provide help for macro needs such as food, housing, medical assistance, etc. We focus on the “micro” needs of the child. So, we pay for prom tickets, field trips, summer camp, glasses, instrument rentals and other items that many other children take for granted. To identify these children, we have established a national network of thousands of teachers and social workers who, upon identifying that child, send us a request on their behalf. We respond within 24 hours by sending the requestor a gift card for the item which is then passed on to the parent/caregiver. This way that adult can proudly announce to the child that they are going shopping for the item (or they’ll be getting the service) and the child does not know they are receiving charity.

It’s about taking the shame out of charity. It’s about the child’s dignity.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career has been dedicated to some form of public service. Inspired by the late Robert F Kennedy, I always wanted to serve others. So, I worked for several Members of Congress and was a lobbyist for many years on issues I cared very much about (affordable housing, reproductive rights). I even at one point was a substitute teacher!

I believe I am here to make this a better world and the work I am doing now is the best work I’ve ever done. Every day I get a chance to lift an average of 20 kids who face so many disadvantages. I know from personal experience that all these kids need is to know someone cares about them (e.g., their teacher/social worker) and then they need that financial assistance. We like to say “A Little Help Goes a Long Way.” I’ve seen that in my years at Alice’s Kids. Still, there are millions more children out there who could use our help (we spend about $1 million per year on kids) and it is my dream that one day we will receive that large grant that will help us reach even more children.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my sister, Laura Fitzsimmons Peters. Growing up on Long Island, we were the “welfare kids,” the kids who would be made fun of, who missed so many opportunities because our single Mom struggled financially. Laura (and I) escaped that situation and live productive lives. In 2011, during a casual conversation with my sister, Alice’s Kids was founded.

I’d also like to dedicate this to the thousands of hard-working teachers and social workers who send us requests on behalf of a child. Without them, we could not find these kids who often are under the radar.

Website: www.aliceskids.org

Instagram: @alicewillhelp

Twitter: @alicewillhelp

Image Credits
Patrick Fitzsimmons

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