Meet Tom Mahoney: Forward Together Campaign Chair

Tom with Vincent at therapy session

Early this year, Tom visited one of Vincent’s therapy sessions to celebrate his many accomplishments and cheer him on toward his future goals.

A $10 million fundraising campaign would sound daunting to most people, but when ChildServe board member Tom Mahoney heard about the Forward Together campaign, he jumped in with both feet.

"When I first heard Teri Wahlig, ChildServe's CEO, share her vision and passion for the future of pediatric specialty healthcare in Iowa, I wanted to be involved," says Tom. "I saw that the campaign would be a big lift, but a mentor once told me, 'No money, no mission.' If our fundraising efforts meant that ChildServe could help more kids live a great life—that was worth the challenge to me."

As the Forward Together campaign chair, Tom's energy for ChildServe's mission burned even brighter after he met a young boy named Vincent, who has autism.

"I first met Vincent early in his journey with ChildServe's Autism Day Health program. He was distant, withdrawn, and could not communicate his feelings," says Tom. "Two years later, I happened to meet him again on a tour of the program, and he ran up to me smiling, talking, and even giving me a hug. In that small moment, I got to experience the outcome of all the hard work Vincent put in with his team. The trajectory of his life was changed dramatically in a positive way."

Tom and Vincent

Tom and Vincent share a special moment after reuniting two years after their first meeting.

Inspired to help more kids like Vincent, Tom and the Forward Together Campaign Committee made it their goal to help more people see ChildServe's mission in action.

"When people come into ChildServe, they get to see how the team and the kids work together," says Tom. "From my perspective, watching this team is like seeing angels at work. It touches your heart. When you see the spirit of each child, you want to be part of the mission."

As ChildServe celebrates reaching the $10 million campaign goal in just 16 months, instead of the expected three years, Tom's focus on the mission hasn't shifted.

"It's not the dollar amount itself we're excited about, it's that now we will get to see the plans we have made come to life. Construction projects, expanded programs, and more kids getting the care they need to live a great life—that's what will make our work and the generosity of our donors worthwhile. I'm grateful to all the donors who enable ChildServe to offer hope in the hardest of times and expert care to even more children and families in Iowa."

There are many ways you can help even more children in Iowa lead great lives. Contact Colleen Rogers Messenger CAP® at colleen@childserve.org or 515-251-5572 to learn more.