Today we’d like to introduce you to Tradd Hodge.
Hi Tradd, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was five, I told my mom that I wanted to start a holiday to help children in hospitals. I began this mission by sending out an email to friends and family to collect donations. Our living room was overflowing with toys, dolls, art supplies, and toiletries. We brought all the donations to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, delivering them individually to each patient. When I saw their faces light up one by one, I decided that this is something I wanted to keep doing. We called it “Tradd’s Giving Day”, and it got larger yearly as we helped more organizations. In 2022, we decided to gain our official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and this helped us grow exponentially. We renamed Giving Day “The Giver Foundation”, and began to help even more local organizations. We added a Board of Advisors who meet annually to help guide The Giver Foundation and give advice. Currently, we help around 12 other charities directed towards helping children in need in South Carolina. Additionally, for the tenth anniversary this year, we have added a Youth Advisory Board with twelve responsible, hard-working teens in Spartanburg with different perspectives- all working together to help these children get through whatever hardship they may be facing. In total, we have raised over $100,000 dollars for children in need- all while being a completely youth-led nonprofit.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
By no means can you achieve something great without hard work. Years of fundraising, thank-you notes, and publicity have helped me establish a good reputation, motivating people to give donations year after year. We also faced the dilemma of COVID-19. Since we partner with various child healthcare organizations, COVID changed our process drastically for several years. We had to depend entirely on Amazon to order wishlist items, and we could no longer talk to the patients in person. However, I am proud to say that we got through this period, and continued to thrive through it all. I am very thankful that we persevered and never quit!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the founder of The Giver Foundation, a nonprofit for children in need in Upstate South Carolina. I just finished 9th grade and play both lacrosse and football. I also just completed my Eagle Scout project. The Giver Foundation specializes in philanthropy for local youth. Not only does our nonprofit help youth, but what sets it apart is that it is led entirely by youth. I focus most of my free time on trying to make this the best organization possible. I would like to think that I am known for perseverance, leadership, and friendliness. We have achieved many grants, achievements, and awards over the years from various places, including Dabo’s All In Foundation, the City of Spartanburg, Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals, the Church of the Advent, and more. I am most proud of what this foundation has become, the people who have believed in it, and most importantly, all of the children who we’ve helped over the past 10 years. I am extremely thankful that I consistently have put in the hard work that makes The Giver Foundation what it is today, and I am appreciative of those who have helped me along the way!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I love the outdoors! I am outside as much as possible, whether it’s fly fishing, boy scouts, traveling, hunting, or just walking around, I try to get out in nature frequently.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thegiverfoundation.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giverfoundation/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKu3MB7Lbo-rO2cs5510vwA
- Other: To donate – https://godonate.akoyago.com/spcf/fund/a6a77617-1669-ed11-9561-000d3a377d98
