"The Invitation"

Dear Brave Family,

August 5th changed my life in ways I never anticipated.

I never could have imagined that when my hope was sinking like a stone, Brayden's legacy would one day lift my hope, my love, and my belief back to the surface.

For a long time, I thought every August would always be defined by grief. And to be honest, that grief is still there. I don't believe it ever truly leaves. But over the past few years, something else has quietly grown alongside it.

Love.

Legacy.

Hope.

None of those erase the pain. They simply remind me that love has a remarkable way of refusing to end.

Every person reading this newsletter has become part of that story.

Every time a child is reunited with their dog through Brave Pets, every time Brave Kids laugh alongside their best friend on a Brave Friends Adventure, and every time another Ronald McDonald House family opens a copy of one of our Brayden's Books, I'm reminded that one brave act can continue changing thousands of lives long after we're gone.

That's nothing short of a miracle.

I've learned that miracles rarely happen all at once. More often, they take shape quietly through ordinary people who simply accept an invitation to show up. A volunteer who spends an evening packing books. Parents who courageously share their family's story. A company that opens its doors so employees can discover purpose beyond a paycheck. A donor who decides that even a small gift can become part of something much bigger.

None of those moments seem extraordinary by themselves. Together, they become an invitation.

An invitation to believe in one another a little more.

To hold on to hope a little longer.

To love with everything we have.

Because love is eternal.

As you read this month's Brave Bulletin, I hope you don't just see stories about Brave Like Me. I hope you see opportunities to accept that invitation. You'll celebrate incredible moments with Brave Kids, meet new partners, and discover new ways to help us continue bringing joy, belonging, and hope to families who need it most.

When we invite others to believe, hope, and love alongside us, that invitation becomes our legacy. And legacies don't end. They continue growing, one Brave Kid, one family, and one brave act at a time.

I hope you'll continue accepting that invitation and inviting others to join us.

Onward with Bravery!

John Otten
CEO & Co-Founder
Brave Like Me Foundation