Our Cause

After Jodi Kalson’s daughter, Harley, passed away in February 2014, she began fundraising for children’s hospitals in her memory. She served on the host committee for a charity event called Chic for CHOP from 2014 to 2016, to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit. She also served on the host committee for a charity event called Cheers for CHOP from 2016 to 2018, to raise funds for various departments at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. From 2015 to 2018, she hosted an annual Halloween charity event called BOO For Babies—along with selling BOO t-shirts and BOO tote bags—to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit. She is also an active member of a parent advisory committee at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

In 2018, she launched her first Atlanta-based annual charity event called Brunch for Babies, to raise funds for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Jodi hosted Brunch for Babies in 2019 and plans to host it again in the future but was unable to have the event in 2020 due to Covid-19. Instead, she is currently selling BOO masks and hosting an outdoor event called BOOtcamp For Babies the week of October 19-23 to raise funds for both children’s hospitals. Thus far, Jodi has raised close to $200,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia NICU and close to $20,000 for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta NICU.

Harley’s Story

Harley was born on June 1, 2013, at 27 weeks, along with her twin sister, Micah. Harley was 1 lb., 13 oz. at birth and Micah was 2 lbs., 2 oz. Harley spent eight and a half months in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia N/IICU before passing away on February 15, 2014. Harley was born with a type 4 laryngeal cleft and microgastria, both rare abnormalities. She underwent surgery to repair the laryngeal cleft in November 2013, and the surgery was successful. Harley’s surgery was the first time this specific procedure had ever been performed at CHOP, and only the second time in history it had ever been performed on a baby with her particular rare airway defect. Harley later passed away of other unrelated issues.

Harley was so strong and overcame many great obstacles in her short life. She made a tremendous impact on everyone she met, and those who have heard her story. She will forever be in our hearts, and we will love her forever.

Book Donations

We will be donating a portion of the proceeds from each sale of The Girl Who Lives in the Sky to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. We would appreciate any additional donations, big or small, to honor Harley’s memory. All donations will go toward helping babies and families in need.

Please visit our Donate page to make an additional donation.