Hi! I'm Sydney
My grandmother, Ann, taught me how to live life in full bloom. Watching how she lived in spite of Huntington's disease was so inspiring. When she had to move into an assisted living facility and later a nursing home, my visits with her became more precious.
I saw firsthand how isolating it could be for some residents. When the COVID-19 pandemic closed visiting hours to nursing homes, it was easy to feel helpless. My heart grew especially heavy when Ann passed away in 2020 and we all felt the effects of isolation.
But if there was one thing I learned from Ann — it was that you never stop fighting and you never stop smiling. The Hello Friend Project was born to take up this fight against isolation and honor all of our sweet friends in memory care and nursing homes.
Our Values
Everything we do is guided by the spirit Ann left behind.
Compassion
Every letter is a reminder that someone cares. We lead with love in everything we do.
Dignity
We honor the dignity of every person in care, treating them as the valued individuals they are.
Connection
We believe no one should feel alone. Our mission bridges the gap between communities.
Hope
Inspired by Ann's spirit, we plant seeds of hope through every card we deliver.
The Impact of a Single Card
We have delivered over 50,000 cards with messages of hope, love, and encouragement. These cards have made a huge impact on the residents who received them and are truly cherished.
We have over 12,000 volunteers from all over the world — spanning 35 countries. These precious individuals have written cards to uplift and encourage. We are so grateful for their kind words and support.
Our volunteers don't write to a specific person — they write to anyone who needs to hear a kind word. That's the beauty of it. Every card finds its way to someone who needs it most.
