Leanne Joyce: Hometown Hero

Leanne Joyce is this week’s Hometown Hero.

Leanne is the Founder and President of Positive Impact for Kids.  The organization strives to improve the hospital experience for children and teenagers receiving inpatient medical care in the United States.  Get more information on Positive Impact for Kids.

Leanne is 16 years old and will be entering the 11th grade at Carrboro High School this fall.

She was born with Aortic Valve Stenosis which is a heart condition narrowing her aortic valve.  When she was 12, Leanne was told that she would have to stop playing sports because they were lift threatening.  At the time, she was a nationally ranked jump roper, competitive swimmer, and a gymnast.

While she was in the hospital, volunteers gave her a gift.  That gift motivated her to give back.  That’s when she started Positive Impact for Kids.  She has helped 83 hospitals, one in every state.  She has donated 91 iPads, over 1,000 gift cards, gaming systems, laptops, and other items from pediatric hospital wish-lists.

Overall, these donations have affected more than 500,000 pediatric patients.  She wants to raise at least $100,000 before she graduates from high school.  So far, she has raised more than $64,000.

You can donate to Positive Impact for Kids.

See Leanne tell her story.

You can nominate your own Hometown Hero.  WCHL has honored local members of our community everyday since 2002.