Meet Jen Rubino | Founder & Executive Director of Cards for Hospitalized Kids

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

Hi Jen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My own experience in the hospital as a teen inspired me to start CFHK to help other kids facing similar struggles.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) is a charitable organization that spreads hope, joy & magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards. We distribute cards to Children’s Hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses (RMH) across the country in all 50 states. We distribute “general” cards monthly as well as holiday cards for major holidays.

I developed the idea for CFHK when I was a young teen after my own struggles undergoing 20+ surgeries to treat a rare childhood bone disease. At the time, I was just a teenager with no nonprofit experience or expertise / skills in any of the associated areas (outreach, social media management, website building / management, event planning, etc.) but I had to learn as I went along, and let my desire to give back lead the way.

While CFHK began small, it quickly grew. CFHK now distributes cards to Children’s Hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses in all 50 states both monthly and for major holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/ Winter-time holidays, Valentines Day, etc). Over 550,000 cards have been distributed thus far.

Individuals and groups — schools, teams, churches, companies, etc —from across the US, and abroad, donate their time and creativity to make handmade cards and send them to CFHK for distribution. People from all walks of life have come together under this common cause. Celebrities, such as Cody Simpson, Lauren Conrad, Lucy Hale, Olympians Aly Raisman, Nastia Liukin, Jordyn Wieber and more, have also gotten involved with CFHK by donating autographs for the kids to receive with the cards.

While a card may seem simple, it’s incredibly impactful for the receiving kids and their families. It brightens their day and shows them someone is thinking of them. Many of the kids go on to volunteer for CFHK after they recover. Getting involved with CFHK is also impactful for the individuals and groups of all ages, making the cards, by helping them realize their capacity to make a difference.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes, I was fortunate to receive advice, mentorship and guidance from other teen nonprofit founders and leaders who came before me including Tammy Tibbetts of “She’s the First”, Kendall Ciesmier of “Kids Caring 4 Kids”, Hannah Trencher of “The World Needs More Love Letters” and many others. They helped me see it was possible to start a charity from nothing, even as a teen, and build it from the ground up into a massive success. I’m so grateful to now provide that same advice and guidance to other teens.

Website: www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com

Instagram: @cardsforhospitalizedkids

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cards-for-hospitalized-kids/

Twitter: @Crds4HosptlKids

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CardsForHospitalizedKids

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CardsForHospitalizedKids