Teammate Shoutouts

Thank you for what you do!

Our teammate shoutout is an effort to showcase who is behind this incredible effort to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It has taken a team, from across the nation, to get to where we are at and we want to show our appreciation by recognizing some of them here. If there is someone you would like to recognize please contact us.

Here they are in their own words responding to our interview questions.

Brandon's Halloween Trail in 2021 was a great hit in our subdivision!

Looking forward to seeing what he does this year!

Tell us a little about yourself. Who you are, where you are from and how you are involved with Skeleton’s for St. Jude:

My name is Brandon Vallinino. I live in Holly Springs, NC with my family. I created a Halloween trail in our yard for people to enjoy. My goal was to help a charity and Mr. Robertson reached out to my mom and asked if we wanted to be involved. We were very excited about helping out St. Jude.

Why St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital? Any special connection?

We do not have a special connection, but I know all of the donations go directly to the organization. I also like that the kids get the help they need and their families don’t have to worry about the financial burden.

What do you enjoy about fundraising and what do you hope to accomplish with your efforts?

I enjoy the feeling I get helping others in need. I particularly like that we are helping raise money for children who are sick.

Anything else about yourself you would like to share?

Being a member of my school’s National Junior Honor Society allows me to help our community. With Skeletons for St. Jude, this allows me to help kids across the country get the treatment they need.

A little about Mark Kozik - Website guy for Skeletons for St. Jude

Tell us a little about yourself. Who you are, where you are from and how you are involved with Skeleton’s for St. Jude:

My name is Mark Kozik and I live outside of Atlanta, GA. I found Skeletons for St. Jude during last years holiday season and unfortunately very late in the game! I have followed the Facebook page and have participated in the events and fundraisers thus far and have been taken aback by the outpouring of support to the cause. I reached out to Jeff asking if there was anything I could do to help and we settled on the website! I am a security engineer by day and play with websites in my off-time. I am buy no means a pro, but Jeff is being patient with me and we are working to gain more visibility and bring more folks into the fold!

Why St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital? Any special connection?

My family does not have any special connection to St. Jude Children’s Hospital other than the desire to help the kids and their families. We also participate via our Amazon purchases (a lot of them!) as they donate to the cause as well.

What do you enjoy about fundraising and what do you hope to accomplish with your efforts?

I have been a part of a few fundraisers: Baby’s and teenagers requiring new kidney’s, Christmas presents and meals through my lodge and Fire Department as well as helping those through the Firefighter Burn Foundation. I have been a part of online fundraising as well as in person events and it always gives me great pleasure to see the joy and satisfaction of all involved and to see these kids grow up and lead a productive life!

Anything else about yourself you would like to share?

Many I have spoken to over the years do not feel there contribution will be ‘enough’ to help a cause. I am here to say that EVERY bit counts. It’s like going to the dollar store and picking up this and that – each is only a dollar – but when you get to the cash register and see the total, well, it all adds up! Give what you can whether it be through monies or volunteering time – it ALL helps!

We Love Mike and his family's fun and exciting ways to help St. Jude!

Tell us a little about yourself. Who you are, where you are from and how you are involved with Skeleton’s for St. Jude:

My name is Mike Bagley. I live in Toledo, Ohio but I’m from Veazie, Maine. I saw Skeletons for St Jude early on last year and was excited to help. I’ve always wanted to give my Halloween obsession a purpose, and what better purpose than helping St. Jude’s?

Why St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital? Any special connection?

My family has always supported St. Jude’s. their mission to stop childhood cancer is one of the greatest causes there is.

I’ll help in any way I can!

What do you enjoy about fundraising and what do you hope to accomplish with your efforts?

I am an out of the box thinker. I like to approach a problem in a way that will make people pause and look. From having my entire family dress up as skeletons and go to seasonal events with posters on our stroller, to having a skelly taking naps in odd places all over the building at work, to having one riding shotgun holding the sign to the passenger side window in my truck, I like to get attention.

I do want to raise money, certainly, but I also want to spread the word and get others to participate. More signs in more yards means more donations it’s that simple

Anything else about yourself you would like to share?

My love of Halloween comes from my parents. We always went all out with costumes, and when my brother and I got older, my folks started organizing a haunted house in our town. My display started as a way to pass of that love of the holiday and sense of fun to my kids. Tying it in to a great fundraiser for st Jude’s just makes it more special and helps make great memories. “Hey remember that year Dad made a 10 foot tall thermometer cause we raised 10 times the money we originally thought?” awesome stuff.

A few more of Mike’s fun displays!