July 18 2024
Today was our final library visit for the Summer. Thank you to everyone who came to the Beaufort branch and make it a great event. Coincidentally, 9 years ago (this month) was our first charity visit as “Project Superhero” at this very same library. I dressed up in a cheap Batman suit and read to a room full of young children. Some of those kids (our oldest daughter included) are now in high school, driving, and climbing an exciting ladder to new big things. They are moving up and moving on.
It is with a heavy (but happy) heart that Sarah and I have decided to do the same. At the end of 2024 we will doing a soft close of Project Superhero.
What do we mean by a soft closure? We will no longer accept general visit requests and no longer organize volunteers or accept new volunteers. Our website and social media will go quiet. The truth is that we love this so much that Sarah and I can’t 100% walk away so we will hold on to our two suits. We might make a few trips to the local children’s hospital in the future or maybe a make-a-wish here and there when called upon. But, overall, we are stepping away.
Why now? This past year has been challenging for us in the management of our little charity. Most of our volunteers have moved on already. We no longer have enough heroes to make visits… so we are having to turn down most requests.
In addition, our careers are growing and our kids are both so big now. We must divide our time more wisely between them… because it all just goes so fast. We hope you all understand.
On a personal note… this has been one of the greatest joys of our lives, to watch this small non-profit thrive over the last decade. As a group, we have made over a thousand visits and have met thousands of people. At times we have experienced sadness. Even stepping out of the room to hide tears. But, more often than not, we left our visits smiling and joyful.
We are eternally grateful to the volunteers that have given so much of themselves, the sponsors and donors who believed in us and helped us along the way, and of course, all of the people (big and small) that shared a moment with us while we were in the suits. We remember all of you. You have made our lives immeasurably better. Thank you all for being our sidekicks during this amazing journey.
Love,
Rodney and Sarah Leary
(Batman and Wonder Woman)