By Sabrina Bush Staff writer
What began as an entrepreneurship class project at a Minnesota university in 2012 has since become an enterprise in battling pediatric cancer, with a network of nearly 800 colleges across the country, including Susquehanna.
“Love Your Melon” was founded at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota by students Brian Keller and Zachary Quinn, who had the simple ambition of putting a hat on the head of every child battling cancer.
“Brian and I founded Love Your Melon while we were sophomores in college,” Quinn said in a statement on LYM’s website. “We wanted to help those in need so we created 400 hats and kicked off our buy one, give one program.”
Their buy one, give one retail model—much like TOMS—is simple: for each hat a consumer purchases, LYM will donate an identical one to a child who has pediatric cancer.
“On December 18, 2012, we went on our first hospital donate event,” Quinn said. “We were inspired to keep making our hats.”
So they did: In 2014, LYM embarked on two nationwide tours, and upon meeting students across the country who were eager to join their efforts, they started the Campus Crew Program, which is comprised of more than 11,000 students and approximately 740 colleges and universities.
“What we do is wear the gear to promote the brand and raise awareness of childhood cancer,” said junior Abbey Kemble, Susquehanna Campus Crew vice president. “We encourage people to go online and purchase a product because half of the proceeds go to making a hat for a child with pediatric cancer and the other half goes to research.”
In addition to being “brand ambassadors,” Susquehanna Campus Crew has aspirations of its own.
“As a club this year we’re trying to get in contact with a local hospital to really make frequent visits, especially on holidays, to bond with the pediatric patients and be a buddy or mentor to them,” Kemble said.
Upon its expansion, LYM had two new goals: donate 45,000 hats to children undergoing cancer treatment and raise $1 million for pediatric cancer research.
To date, LYM has given more than 75,000 hats to children battling cancer, donated more than $1.1 million to pediatric cancer research and is now collaborating with other nonprofit partners.
As of April 8, 2016, 50 percent of net proceeds from the sale of all LYM products are donated to LYM’s nonprofit partners in the fight against pediatric cancer.
Its partners work in the field of pediatric oncology, fund cancer research initiatives and provide immediate support to families with a child who is battling cancer.
LYM has continued to grow in the last year.
The website has expanded with more items to purchase including caps, beanies, cuffed beanies, apparel and accessories. The color options for each item have also continued to expand.
Purchases can be made at www.loveyourmelon.com.
Susquehanna students should select Susquehanna Campus Crew at checkout.
Students can get involved by contacting Susquehanna Campus Crew at loveyourmelonsu@gmail.com.