Published: December 14, 2025 Author: Brenda & John O’Laughlin

As we sit down to write this, it is the morning after our annual holiday celebration.

Yesterday, the gymnasium at Maryville Academy was transformed. If you look at the photos we’ve shared, you’ll see a sea of red and green bags, piles of wrapped boxes, a beautiful tree, and smiling faces. You’ll even see our furry, four-legged friends who joined us to spread cheer. But what the camera lens can’t quite capture is the electricity in the air—the palpable feeling of dignity, love, and a promise kept.

Yesterday, we had the honor of presenting individual gifts to almost **300 children** across every single program at Maryville Academy.

The Psychology of a Specific Wish

From a psychological perspective, there is a profound difference between handing a child a generic toy and handing them *the* gift they asked for.

Kelli Joy understood this intuitively. She believed with all her heart that every child should wake up on Christmas morning to a gift that wasn’t just a donation, but a fulfilled wish. That distinction matters. When a child in care opens a package and finds exactly what they hoped for, the message is clear: *”You are seen. You are heard. You matter.”*

That was Kelli’s joy. That remains our mission.

A Legacy of Growth (2012–2025)

Looking out at the mountain of gifts yesterday, it was hard not to reflect on how this started. Our journey began on November 2nd, 2012, thanks to Mark and Terry connecting us with Sr. Kathy. Brenda remembers nervous emails to Mary K, asking how we could help. Back then, we were just trying to serve a few homes.

Today, thanks to the incredible momentum of this community, we have scaled to reach every corner of Maryville.

We have to give a special shout-out to “Mary and the Angels,” who joined this story in 2016. What started as a spreadsheet emailed on November 29th has turned into a well-oiled machine of love. Now, Mary reaches out before Halloween, and Tina H. is ready with her trademark enthusiasm: *”I’m working on it!”*

To see the volunteers, the donors, and the supporters standing together in that gym—it is the physical manifestation of Kelli’s spirit. We know she is watching over us, smiling at how far we’ve come.

The Year-End Ask: Keep the Dream Alive

While the wrapping paper has been torn off and the toys are being played with, the work of the Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Foundation continues.

The holidays are a time of abundance, but the needs of these young people and our scholarship recipients exist year-round. We are writing to you today—the day after the “big event”—to ask you to help us finish the year as strong as we started it.

We need your help to ensure we have the resources to return next year, to expand our reach, and to keep saying “Yes” to these children.

We have kept the donation link from our golf outing active for our **Year-End Giving Campaign**. Whether you were able to join us at the outing or not, your contribution right now acts as a direct investment in compassion.

Click Here to Make a Year-End Contribution

A Final Thank You

KJO Volunteers pictured with Sister Cathy and the Maryville Staff

To everyone who shopped, wrapped, drove, and donated: You didn’t just buy merchandise. You bought joy. You bought a moment of normalcy for a family going through a hard time.

As we stood among the bags and the bustle yesterday, we realized that we aren’t just delivering presents; we are delivering the message that this community is a family.

Thank you for keeping Kelli Joy’s dream alive and shining brightly. Please consider a year-end gift to help us carry this light into 2026.

Merry Christmas, and may God bless you all.

**Brenda & John O’Laughlin**

Picture of the Maryville Staff that helped unload and organize the presents.