Rosie has been passionate about two things since she was little: helping others, and hygeine. By the time she was old enough to talk she was pointing out individuals and families experiencing homelessness on the other side of the car window and asking how to help. She also since 1st grade has been really, really into researching skincare and figuring out what really helps (especially in different cutures) and what is just hype or scams. She's been giving her younger siblings and friends facials and skincare tips since 1st grade too. When she was 12, she noticed a bigger problem: kids in need at her school aren't getting clothing and hygeine/skincare needs met and it's leading to them not wanting to go to school because they don't feel confident. So she asked what she could do so that kids can actually get these items instead of them just sitting in a closet at the school or on bathroom counters all over the place gathering dust. And some kids might be too nervous to ask an adult for a kit or clothing, or to refuse it if an adult tries to give them help. But if kids were the ones doing the helping for each other? That could work. From there, the Blue Lily Foundation was born.
Today, we are in Phase I of the foundation's goals, which we hope to complete by 2027. Those phases include making relationships with the teachers and school counselors and local librarians and distributing donation collection boxes, and making educational videos and leaflets that will go into the kits.