We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chris “C.J:” Matthews a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
C.J , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
I want people to remember me and the Blankies 4 My Buddies(B4MB) brand for being a positive influence and catalyst for change in the world. I want people to remember that we turned our pain into purpose and used it as a way to heal ourselves and to show others how to find alternatives to life’s obstacles. I want to be remembered for helping to inspire a new generation of changemakers to be kind and make changes toward a brightfuture for those who come behind us.
C.J , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
When I was five years old, my mother experienced a pregnancy loss. I struggled with coping so my parents helped me to create a project that would help me feel better. I hosted a blanket drive. Collected and donated over 800 blankets that first time back in 2013. I loved the work and how it made me feel when gifting blankets to kids who were sick, displaced, and living in shelters and orphanages. We also would walk around the city’s homeless population and hand out blankets when it was cold. I told his mom that I never wanted another kid to feel sad and lonely and Blankies 4 My Buddies was born. We did this work during the cold months annually and in 2021, we applied for 501 (c )3 nonprofit status. Our small project has grown into an organization that brings small tokens of comfort in the form of blankets, socks, books, etc., to thousands of children annually who are dealing with difficult situations, from grief and loss to chronic illnesses and homelessness.
I am 16 now, and a sophomore at Eagles Landing Christian Academy where I am on the football and wrestling teams. I am a founding member of Giving Tuesday Spark, and I serve as an ambassador for many great organizations including Points of Light, Riley’s Way, Be The Voice, and Ving Project. My goal is to build a social enterprise that will benefit kids in need worldwide.
In 2021, I created an award-winning initiative called The Blanket Box Project. The purpose is to inspire other kids and teens to use their hands to make a blanket to comfort others in need. The Blanket Box Project earned me a place in the inaugural class of 25 young changemakers in the 2022 Prudential Emerging Visionaries, and has also received recognition from Guppy Tank Kids and Riley’s Way Foundation’s “Call For Kindness.” On Giving Tuesday 2023, Nickelodeon’s Nick News attended the “Making Change” Blanket Workshop and honored my little brother Kollin, 7, and me with a blimp that was featured on the Christmas Special in the Slime-It-Forward segment. Other recognitions I have received include the Baskin Robbins Pint-Sized Hero (2020), the YOU Awards International Community Service Honoree (2019), the Carol D. Reiser Youth Service Award (2021), and the President’s Volunteer Service Award (2020).
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
My story is one of resilience and proof that anyone can overcome any situation. My mom always says that children with unaddressed emotions turn into adults with unaddressed emotions. By helping me start Blankies 4 My Buddies at five years old she had a bigger vision that could potentially help me throughout my lifetime. She wanted to ensure that I coped with what I was dealing with at that time so that I wouldn’t grow up an angry or sad person. I’d say we’ve done a pretty good job at that. Giving away blankets to kids dealing with difficult situations like I did when I lost my little sister helped me to find a way to heal through giving. Now, my little brother Kollin and I are teaching kids around the county to find their own healing through our Making Change blanket workshops. We are giving kids an opportunity to make blankets in a group setting to donate to people in need of comfort in their local communities. Research shows that giving is as therapeutic for the giver as it is the receiver. Our hope is that they leave with a feeling of satisfaction and hope, and venture out to find their own projects to contribute to making change in their communities and the world.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
We’ve been telling our story online since I was five years old. From personal experiences to what we’re doing with B4MB, I grew up online and in the media. I also align myself with like-minded young people, other changemakers, and organizations that support me and my brand through various opportunities and events.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blankies4mybuddies.org/about-us/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blankies4mybuddies/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/blankies4mybuddies
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blankies4mybuddies?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: http://x.com/cjmatthews07
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@Blankies4mybuddiesfoundation
Image Credits
Kristen Wright Matthews