Mary Beth’s Angels

Mary Beth’s AngelsMary Beth Ricken was a very happy, healthy and caring child. She yearned to continuously assist others and was always smiling and laughing. When she was 10 years old, she adopted her life motto – Life is Short, Laugh Hard! Mary Beth’s Angels Foundation was created in January 2001 with the intent of carrying out the wishes of then 15 year-old Mary Beth. She shared her thoughts on the mission of the foundation while in her finals stages of battling a brain tumor just days before she entered God’s kingdom on January 23, 2001.

She wanted to assist children in the community in the areas of hunger, cleanliness, education and healthcare. She was very humbled and excited that this entity would live out her wishes. She asked that the foundation be named after the many people who prayed for and supported her and her family in her 15-month battle with this dreaded disease, Mary Beth’s Angels.

During the past eight years Mary Beth’s Angels Foundation has touched the lives of thousands of children in the community through the generosity of its supporters. Through this support, the foundation has contributed some $400,000 in cash, clothing, and supplies to various causes assisting children in the community.

Mission

Promote a positive environment for children, concentrating on specific areas of need in our community including hunger, cleanliness, education, and healthcare.

Areas of Support

Although Mary Beth’s life was cut short from cancer, she wanted to be certain that the foundation focused on several aspects affecting the lives of children. To touch on some of the areas children have been supported, we offer the following:

Hunger

  • Provide support to local area food pantries who serve families in the local communities
  • Furnish families with holiday meals when they would otherwise go without food
  • Purchase grocery coupons for families with terminally ill children who are suffering financially

Cleanliness

Work with The Little Bit Foundation to focus on cleanliness by:

  • Purchasing washers and dryers for inner city schools so the children attending may have their clothing washed (6 schools to-date)
  • Purchasing or getting extra sets of clothes donated for school-aged children who only have one set of clothing
  • Providing personal hygiene products to adolescent boys and girls
  • Supplying underwear and sports bras for entire schools

Education

  • Establish library programs and free books for kids at local pediatric hospitals and children’s living centers
  • Present the Angel Character Award annually to 10 students from impoverished schools who portray strong character traits
  • Fund scholarships in Mary Beth’s memory at St Joseph’s Academy

Healthcare

  • Send children with cancer and their siblings to overnight summer camp, enabling them to be campers for a week, not just children living with cancer
  • Pay utility, housing, and other necessary living expenses for families with terminally-ill children
  • Acquire eye glasses for children who could not afford them

Sheila Ricken, executive director, says, “We believe this is simply the beginning of what will be accomplished through the generosity of our supporters and organizations like our friends at The Little Bit Foundation. We know Mary Beth is smiling and laughing at all the joy her legacy is providing to children. Life is Short – Laugh Hard!"