A sophomore finance major has brought a heartwarming new initiative to campus.
The club, Letters of Love, originated at Orono High School in a suburb outside Minneapolis, thanks to Orono student and founder Grace Berbig’s dedication.
The founder of TCU’s chapter, Nina Larsen, attended high school with Berbig, who chose to pursue the organization full-time after graduation.
Berbig’s nonprofit expanded globally. The concept is simple yet profound: creating handmade cards for children battling life-threatening illnesses in long-term care.
“One thing that really drew me to ‘Letters of Love’ was its accessibility,” Larsen shared. “It’s not a club you have to pay dues for; anyone can join, and it doesn’t require a significant time commitment. Yet, the impact it has is immeasurable.”
Berbig is intimately familiar with the emotional toll of having a loved one fight a severe illness, having lost her own mother to cancer during high school.
“Grace would make cards for her mom during her hospital stays, and my family was close with hers, so we were at the hospital with them quite often,” Larsen said. “Bringing this chapter to TCU is my way of honoring Grace’s family and sharing something I so deeply care about. It’s meaningful and personal for me.”
Establishing the TCU chapter hasn’t come without its challenges.
Larsen navigated through a year-long process of attending training sessions, organizing meetings, forming an executive board and pitching the idea to the university’s student organizations leaders.
With guidance from their advisor, nursing professor Abby Garcia, the chapter finally took shape.
“Being able to bring this organization to my campus has been incredibly rewarding,” Larsen said. “It’s not just about making cards. It’s about spreading love and hope to children who need it the most.”
The nonprofit’s approach is thoughtful, avoiding clichéd phrases like “get well soon” to acknowledge the harsh reality these children face.
Instead, the cards offer messages of love, strength and solidarity. For holidays like Valentine’s Day, themed cards provide an extra touch of warmth.
Every summer, “Letters of Love” hosts a gala, bringing together families, teachers and recipients of the cards for a banquet-style event. It’s a moment of celebration and connection, where the impact of their efforts becomes tangible in Minneapolis, where it all started.
Berbig still runs the organization full-time, traveling to oversee its various sub-chapters nationwide.
With its official status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the initiative has touched the lives of countless children and families across the country.
For Larsen and her peers, participating in “Letters of Love” isn’t just a charitable act; it’s a meaningful break from the stresses of daily life, a reminder of the power of compassion and community.
