Live Hope Laugh, The Alexis Ross Foundation- Westminster, MD. Live Hope Laugh is a non-profit organization based in Carroll County, MD. It is dedicated to improving and benefiting the lives of children and teens with a chronic illness. It was founded by Alexis Ross in October of 2010, at a young age of thirteen.

Mission

Live Hope Laugh’s mission is to improve and impact the lives of children and teen living with a chronic illness and reminding the children to Live for a brighter future, Hope for tomorrow, and to Laugh always.

The Alexis Ross Story (written in 2016)

In the fall of 2008, I was diagnosed with Type One diabetes. In an instance my life had changed forever. I had to learn to adjust to a “new” way of living; daily glucose monitoring, daily insulin injections, doctors appointments every three months. I have met many people and I constantly hear words of sympathy and condolences. These words are very much appreciated, but I don’t need them. Many people see this disease as something negative, something horrific. These are the cards I have been dealt and I have learned to overcome it. This was once a speed bump in my path but now it’s just a rock. It takes a positive attitude, a mind set, and a dream; and that’s what I had. After about a year of being diagnosed, I decided I needed to do something to raise money for Type One diabetes. I began selling handmade football barrettes all across the United States. Every penny raised was donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to help find a cure. It was great being able to contribute to such a cause but I wanted to see first hand where the money I raise goes. So in the fall of 2010, I founded the Live Hope Laugh; Alexis Ross Organization. I didn’t subject it solely to diabetics I expanded it to a mission of improving, impacting, and benefiting the lives of children and teens with a chronic illness. My first fundraiser was selling Joe Corbi’s with that money I was able to become incorporated. Now several years later, I have done bake-sales, motorcycle runs, walks, dances, sub sales, barrette sales, Oriole ticket sales and so on. I began with only one program, which was the Holiday Program. I raised money to be able to adopt families and have Santa and his elves hand deliver all the gifts the families had asked for on their wish list to their homes. Now several years later, I have expanded to the Holiday program, Day-Out, Basket and Easter Giving, Back-to-School and awarding a scholarship to a senior. Live Hope Laugh has and will continue to grow in the years to come. I was handed a disease that has made a difference in my life and with that I am able to make a difference in other peoples lives.