At Random Acts, we love to see a big impact, especially when powered by the heart. One way to achieve this is to support the needs of individuals or organizations who are already doing great work in their communities, whether they are well-established or just getting started. ComicBooks For Kids! is one such organization Random Acts has partnered with on several occasions. Staff volunteer Tracy Jackson recently sat down with ComicBooks For Kids! (CB4K) founder Mark Weiss to talk about the mission behind this 501 (c)(3) non-profit, along with its challenges, successes, and ongoing relationship with Random Acts.
Every Child Has Their Heroes
What inspires CB4K?
Mark describes how he planned to donate some of his private collection of comic books to hospitals treating children for life-threatening conditions such as cancer and blood disorders. He was hoping to identify an existing organization that would know how to distribute items effectively. The first problem soon became apparent–there wasn’t one! Undeterred, Mark decided to set one up himself, and ComicBooks For Kids! was born.
In the seven years since, CB4K has grown to supply over 200 hospitals in North America, created a mirror organization in the U.K. and a third arm that provides materials to members of the military, called ComicBooks For Troops! “I was going to retire and relax, and maybe do this one day a week, locally,” laughs Mark. Now, he often spends 60 hours each week overseeing all three charities. But the motivation remains simple:
“We’re just here to put smiles on kids’ faces.”
With the variety of donations CB4K now receives, they can tailor gifts to a child’s special interest or favorite heroes, provide comics with relatable subjects or POC characters, and even bilingual materials. Sometimes, they can provide other items, like plush toys and Hotwheels cars. “When a child gets to play or read, for that time, they are no longer confined in that hospital bed,” Mark explains CB4K’s philosophy.
Never Expectations, But Always Hope
How has the journey been, and what are the future goals?
CB4K does not have any major corporate sponsorship, and instead relies on the support of contributors like publishers, fund donations, and organizations including Random Acts. The first turning point occurred at an industry convention when the publishers Mark approached surprised him by offering immediate support. One even gave him a hug for providing a purposeful pathway for unsold books. It was then he realized the idea was important to others, too, and he has felt constantly humbled by the outpouring of support in the years since.
Mark outlined his dream for the future for ComicBooks For Kids! to be in a position to bring someone on who can facilitate more visibility. This could enable them to reach a new goal of 500 hospitals, bigger packages to troops, and expansion to work with community groups and schools. Even so, the ability to ‘do more, with more’ won’t mean Mark steps back. “I will keep doing this until I drop,” he says. The feedback and photos from kids, families, and hospitals keeps him going, and in return, CB4K is committed to being an uplifting counterpoint to the challenges in affected children’s lives.
A Joyful Partnership
Random Acts’ contributions in recent years have allowed CB4K to buy and distribute particular items, as well as help out with everyday costs like rent. “You have made a difference and allowed us to make a difference,” Mark tells Tracy, who is more than happy to return the praise for an organization driven by ambition and a deep sense of compassion and care.
“I don’t see why there should be limits to helping others,” Mark puts forward.
We here at Random Acts couldn’t agree more!
