Our Cheer Crew
Kelsi Quinones Hirsch
Founder, Program Director & Card Maker
Kelsi’s journey with card-making began at just two years old, when her mother helped her create homemade cards by stamping her tiny handprints and adding heartfelt messages. By 2019, at only 11 years old, she launched her first card club, Kelsi’s Productions (see attached card), and later expanded her efforts by starting a nonprofit project called Cheerful Cards.
What began as simple cards for her grandmother and family friends quickly grew into something more meaningful. Kelsi discovered the joy of seeing someone’s face light up when they received a thoughtful, handmade card. Wanting to spread that happiness further, she began brightening the days of residents at her grandmother’s senior facility and volunteering to lead arts and crafts activities.
Many seniors in assisted living communities rarely receive visitors, with most of their interactions limited to healthcare staff. Kelsi saw how powerful even the smallest gestures— a smile, a card, a shared moment—could be. Through her work, she continues to show that kindness, no matter how simple, has the power to create lasting connections and bring joy to others.
Raffaella Laguteta
Head of Community Cheer & Card Maker
Ever since I was little, I’ve loved making handmade cards, especially for my grandmother in Italy. It was our special way of staying connected across the miles. That tradition inspired me to join Cheerful Cards, where we share that same warmth and connection with seniors in assisted living communities across the Bay Area, Australia, and Italy.
Through this work, I’ve learned how powerful a simple gesture like a handmade card can be a powerful reminder that someone cares. With Kelsi’s support, I’m proud to have helped create and deliver thousands of cards already, and I’m excited to keep spreading kindness, one card at a time.