Meet Nick Wallace, CEO
Chief Entertainment Officer
I’m Nick Wallace and on September 28th 2012, I had a lifesaving liver transplant and I am determined to pay it forward.
What is Nick’s Picks and how was it started?
Nick’s Picks is a 501c3 charity dedicated to providing hospitalized/isolated kids with fun-filled backpacks with the 12 items that I loved the most during my many years of hospitalizations. Because I was born with a liver disease and spent most of my childhood in and out of hospitals, I became an expert at entertaining myself and after my liver transplant, I wanted to share the things that had given me the most fun and entertainment when I was in the hospital. I wanted to try to make it easier for other kids dealing illness or isolation.
Nick’s Picks began in 2012 at Rady Children’s Hospital. My friend was diagnosed with cancer and was having his first chemotherapy. I wanted to make a care package for him with the things I loved most when I was in the hospital on isolation.
He really loved it, so I decided to make it my mission to provide these 12 items to as many hospitalized/isolated kids as possible. To date I have delivered over 1,000 Nick’s Picks filled backpacks to kids in 13 centers nationally.
Nick’s Picks was incorporated the same day I received my liver transplant. What a great day!
What is going on in 2020?
We are busy raising funds and planning for our next back pack assembly line. The last one in the fall (2019) was amazing, we put together 500 backpacks in under an hour and a half! This could not have been done if not for the help of our supporters at DPR construction.
On a more personal note, I am a Film Production Major at Chapman Dodge Film School in OC. I have an emphasis in editing and am also interested in VFX (visual effects). I expect to graduate in 2022 and hopefully succeed in the incredibly competitive film industry.
For now, I am enjoying my courses and having fun editing others’ projects as well as my own film and travel videos. And surfing whenever I can.
My sister, Lexie, is now at TCU in Dallas. She is playing D1 soccer there which takes up a great deal of her time and energy. So she has to find the balance between school and soccer. And fun!!
Our dog Maverik is now 6 and still the cutest Nick’s Picks mascot.
What can others do to help?
Donations are what we need most. All donations are tax deductible, with 100% of the contribution going to provide backpacks to the kids in need. Every $50.00 donated provides one Nick’s Picks backpack loaded with over $200.00 of activities and comfort items to an ill child.
Spreading the word is very important too. Our website, www.nickspicks.org, has a lot of great info about our organization. Please share it, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
I feel so lucky to have gotten my second chance. And I am going to make the most of it!
