Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Stefanski.
Kyle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Cleveland, OH, one of five children in a philanthropic family. I went to college in the North East, during which I was lucky enough to travel back and forth to Los Angeles for a consulting business I was running at the time.
A few years later, in 2014, my mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, and her treatments were to be carried out in LA. I quickly made the full-time transition out here to be by side. An abrupt two and a half months later, my beautiful mother passed away. Rhonda’s Kiss was born from our family tragedy: Turning a negative into a positive by helping those in need.
Rhonda’s Kiss started primarily in Cleveland. Over time, I brought our charity to other markets, such as Los Angeles, Florida, and—soon— NYC. We’ve had multiple successful fundraising events that have helped establish substantial gifts to specific hospitals in those cities.
Today, we have the privilege of using those donations to enhance the quality of our programs through collaboration with Cedars-Sinai, Cleveland Clinic, and Cleveland Clinic FL. Our team is working over-time to plan for upcoming LA and NYC events for the first quarter of 2019.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not. It’s been surprisingly difficult to manage raising awareness, raising funds, and satisfying the logistical demands of the government at the same time.
Along with the business management—based on the nature of this work—there have been layers of emotional management every single day. I had no idea that taking this on would also mean reliving the traumatizing and devastating effects that cancer has on the whole family.
It has also been difficult to work within the guidelines of an NFP. It’s a very specific system. Well-intentioned people want to help build the organization, but can’t wrap their heads around the ins and outs of this world. It has been hard to find people with direct and distinct experience needed to build out Rhonda’s Kiss.
As a young organization actively involved in a NEW concept, It has also been tough to measure the impact of our charity.
Tell us about Rhonda’s Kiss – what should we know?
As believers in whole-person care, we provide immediate relief to cancer patients by assisting with ancillary needs and holistic support. We leave it up to our partner hospitals to know what their patients need to help them through their journey. Money from Rhonda’s Kiss can go towards the purchase of wigs, massages, parking expenses, child care, transportation costs, home utilities, rent/mortgage, car repair, clothing, health equipment, groceries, pet care, prescription costs, or whatever the hospital and their practitioners believe will help the patients the most.
There’s a particular woman in Cleveland who touched my heart early on in our grant-giving process. She was facing her third diagnosis of breast cancer — she had used up all of her resources and was feeling hopeless. This specific scenario shed light on how pervasive this disease is and how many people lack the resources they need. Her story sits with me every day, fueling me with empathy and compassion, driving me to fulfill our mission. With our financial assistance, she had the renewed hope and resources she needed to fight a third time.
The last time I was able to see her, she was smiling through the holidays, and it warmed my heart to know that we could help her carry on the fight. We are very proud to be one of the leaders in the movement to provide financial relief, education, and support to patients and families currently affected by and living with cancer. We understand the responsibility of being on the front lines of this movement—it’s up to us and organizations like us to bring forth the awareness and make the gravity of this cause understood by all.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The first things that comes to mind is passion for the cause and tenacity to take this as far as it will go. But, in a field like this, passion and the willingness to work around the clock will only take me so far. Sometimes, it’s the empathy that keeps me going—I look at this not as a job, but a calling.
After experiencing the heartbreak of cancer myself, I really understand the depths of despair and wanted to bring my best understanding of the scenario to the table, so I approached this from a sociological standpoint. Cancer patients everywhere (from my mother to the recipients of RK donations) enhance my ability to understand the human condition and deepen my existing faith in it.
With empathy, love, passion, and tenacity driving the ship, it will be hard for me to fail this endeavor.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7007 Broadway Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44105 - Website: rhondaskiss.org
- Phone: 216-429-5402
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @rhondaskiss
- Facebook: @rhondaskiss
- Twitter: @rhondaskiss
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