Those simple moments taught me that even the smallest acts of kindness can bring comfort during difficult times.
Jaycee Bairn
2026 Scholarship Winner
Mesa Community College
When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was only seven years old. I didn’t fully understand what was happening, but I remember how our community surrounded us with love and service. Friends, family, and church members brought meals, cleaned our home, and babysat my brother and me. One moment I’ll never forget was when her friends decorated our house for Halloween while she was receiving treatment. Seeing the decorations when she came home from chemo brought my mom so much joy.
Later, attending a Little Pink Houses of Hope retreat in Lake Tahoe changed my life. Meeting other kids whose families were also facing cancer helped me realize I wasn’t alone. That experience inspired me to give back, and I later volunteered at a Little Pink Houses of Hope retreat in Scottsdale to support families going through similar challenges.
These experiences motivated me to attend Mesa Community College to study graphic design so I can use creativity to inspire and support others in my community.