SOURCE: Wisconsin Builder Magazine
When Joe Herr lost his 4-year-old son to complications from pneumonia in 2002, the pain was almost too much to bear.
Logan James Herr was born with cerebral palsy, a challenge the family dealt with during his short life. To honor Logan’s memory and come to terms with the loss, Herr founded a nonprofit foundation in 2004 called Logan’s Heart and Smiles, which provides free labor and low-cost material to construct wheelchair ramps, enlarge door frames, modify bathrooms and complete other projects for families with disabled children.
Though he created the foundation in part to help himself heal, Herr struggled many times, he said, as he routinely met children who reminded him of Logan. Some had similar disabilities or challenges. One young cancer patient even shared Logan’s name.
Herr, senior project manager at Tri-North Builders Inc., Fitchburg, kept at it though, volunteering more of his time to benefit the foundation.
“There’s someone who is going to have it better than you, but there’s always someone who will have it worse,” he said. “A little bit of effort can really make a difference in someone’s life.”
The 5-foot-tall Herr began using his stature to his advantage, appearing as a leprechaun at charity events and other functions to raise money for the foundation. Wearing a costume he pieced together one Halloween from a resale shop on State Street, Herr makes appearances in exchange for donations to the foundation. He also serves as the official leprechaun of Madison’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and visits hospitals and nursing homes, he said.
The fact that Herr is not Irish, just “short and crazy” as he put it, doesn’t impede his success as a leprechaun for hire, he said. Herr puts a lot of time and effort into his look and mastered “Oh Danny Boy” on the harmonica.
The joy his act brings to others is an added bonus to the money raised for the foundation, he said. Herr said he met one child who was being treated for severe burns and when he played her a song on his harmonica, the young girl smiled.
“She was so enthralled — she smiled and tried to reach for me to give her a hug,” he said. “Her mom said that was the first time she smiled in weeks.”
The time demands associated with being a leprechaun for hire, especially in March, can be overwhelming, Herr said. He takes time off work to accommodate parade planning and appearances.
Tri-North is very supportive of its employee’s efforts. Tri-North owner Tom Thayer is a board member for the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation and, during the busy weeks leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, supports Herr’s efforts to assist the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center. The company and its employees also donate time, money and equipment to Logan’s Heart and Smiles.
The foundation continues to help the many families, Herr said, who are overwhelmed performing the everyday activities associated with caring for handicapped children. What began as a healing tool has become a saving grace for more than 45 families in the Madison area in the past five years.
“These families struggle enough with medical bills and therapy,” Herr said. “Frankly, getting your child in and out of the house shouldn’t be a luxury. With the economic downturn and families losing their insurance benefits, the need is greater than ever.”
Article By Shelly Janke
HOW TO HELP
Logan’s Heart and Smiles is a nonprofit foundation paid for solely by donations. Contributions collected during the year and from an annual golf outing are used to buy material and equipment to help families with disabled children.
Donations can be sent to:
Logan’s Heart and Smiles
P.O. Box 259881, Madison, WI 53725
To volunteer, contact the foundation at 608-204-7215 or
e-mail joe@logansheartandsmiles.org.