Feet in the Mud but Heads in the Clouds

July 10, 2022

Scout making friends with a Kauilg giving volunteer

Scout Yatson is like any other two-year-old— she loves to color, loves to play with baby dolls, loves to be outside, and loves to make new friends. Unlike most two-year-olds, Scout is fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia which limits her ability to play outside in public places, meet new friends, and just be a kid. But on May 4, 2022, Kaulig Giving brought play back to Scout’s life in a big way. Kaulig Giving sponsored and built a brand new playset right in Scout’s backyard by partnering with Roc Solid Foundation. Even though the day was cold and rainy when it came time to build, spirits were high as the team was so filled with excitement to build hope for Scout and her family.

A Kaulig Giving volunteer building the roof of the playset

When the Roc Solid team met Scout and her mama and papa bears, Autumn and Matt, they knew it was going to be an extra special build day. Scout wasted no time and started making new friends immediately. She toddled around the mud in her rain boots and handed her stuffed unicorn to anyone and everyone she saw. “Matt and I are excited for her to have a playset that can grow with her and help her forget about all the terrible things related to her cancer,” Autumn told the team. “We are excited to have our family and friends over so she can play with her cousins and friends on it and share with them the joy of just being a kid. Also, a place here at home for her to burn off all of her energy!”

Cancer doesn’t stop for the rain—neither do we.

The Kaulig Giving team posing next to the completed playset

As the team started to build Scout went inside for a snack and a nap—chemo is rough stuff and was making Scout sleepy. Out in the yard, music was playing, laughter was bouncing around the build site, and the playset was coming together perfectly. The team from Kaulig Giving didn’t mind the rain or the cold.

The mission of making an impact for kiddos and families is close to the heart of Kaulig Giving’s founder and CEO, Matt Kaulig, so a partnership with Roc Solid was a perfect fit. “In addition to being an entrepreneur and NASCAR team owner, Matt is a philanthropist. Kaulig Charitable Giving Programs, which are also known as Kaulig Giving, include direct giving from Kaulig Companies, community involvement and service, and significant partnerships improving northeast Ohio and beyond. The focus is the health and wellbeing of children and families, especially in our region,” Kaulig representatives explained. Many of Kaulig Giving’s executive team members ended the day covered in mud but bearing bright smiles.

Scout and a Kaulig giving volunteer stomping in the mud

A Light in a Dark Time

By the time the playset was done and ready to be revealed to Scout and her mama and papa bears the Kaulig Giving team was buzzing with excitement. When Scout came around the corner and saw her playset for the first time, the whole group erupted in applause. Scout’s mama bear, Autumn, was speechless, tearfully saying, “…just thank you,” to the whole crew while Scout looked up at her papa bear to push her in the swing.

Scout and her papa bear swinging on her new playset

“It’s tough to beat watching Scout receive her gift and play, but it’s also an incomparable feeling to work side by side with co-workers for a purpose more important than yourselves,” Kaulig Companies Vice President of Philanthropy, Stacey Langal, told us. Weeks later, Autumn and Matt Yatson are still thanking Kaulig Giving for gifting Scout the power of play. Autumn told us Scout loves the swing and they have a hard time getting her off of it. “It helps her forget about her treatment and just have fun like a two-year-old should,” Autumn told us. “Thank you for giving us this light in a dark time.”