Richard Johnson left behind a tremendous legacy for his children and Bloom owners, Shannon and Kyle Johnson.  Just a week after he was diagnosed with aggressive metastatic melanoma in his liver, Richard took his kids skydiving with him.  Not long after that, they were cruising around the Caribbean together (below).

Richard’s faith gave him peace of mind and his generous, loving heart gave him a vision of how he wanted to be remembered by his friends and family.  In his final months, he was more focused on spending time with his brothers, sisters and children and on hosting an open house for his friends at work than he was on his terminal cancer.

For Shannon and Kyle, this legacy that Richard left behind has been invaluable and it seems only fitting to let it continue by establishing a non-profit foundation that aims to empower other metastatic melanoma patients to create their own legacy. You can read more about Richard’s story on the About the Owners page!

This foundation is funded in two ways: 10% of revenue from the Bloom Benefits Program and 10% of Bloom Studios’ net profit.

100% of the money raised will be used to carry out its three missions:

1. To directly fund melanoma research at the institutional level.  75% of the money directed to the LEP will seek to strike out melanoma all together (up to $20,000 per research grant!).  Melanoma is one of the least understood and yet most aggressive types of cancers.

2. To empower metastatic melanoma patients to create legacies for their loved ones through “Legacy Empowerment Grants.”  This could be done by funding bucket list activities like Richard carried out with his children or by simply helping to bring the patient’s family together so that special memories can be created.

3. To educate Bloom Studios guests and the general public about the dangers of melanoma with statistics and early detection and prevention tips.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How does Bloom Studios support the Legacy Empowerment Project?

Bloom Studios supports the LEP in three ways:

• 10% of all Bloom Benefits Program revenue is directed to the LEP
• Additionally, 10% of Bloom Studios’ TOTAL profit is directed to the LEP

Does being a part of the Bloom Benefits Program earn me a tax write-off since 10% of what I pay goes to support a registered 501(c)3 organization?

YES!  A report is sent out at the end of each tax year to all members, providing all the numbers you will need to file your charitable donations.  It’s a great savings program with a great cause behind it. Doesn’t get any better than that!

How much money needs to be raised to fund one “Legacy Empowerment Grant”?

Each grant will be made for up to $5,000. The amount each melanoma patient receives will depend upon the type of activities they wish to experience with his or her family.

How do you decide who to give “Legacy Empowerment Grants” to?

Grant-eligible patients are referred to the LEP by doctors, family or friends of the patient or by the patients themselves.  The patient’s oncologist must also be willing to approve of their participation in the LEP.

How can I find out about all that the Legacy Empowerment Project has accomplished?

Come into Bloom Studios and check out the foundation’s wall located against the grand staircase in the main lobby.  There, you will see stories shared by melanoma patients who have received “Legacy Empowerment Grants” as well as information about the research projects that are being supported by the LEP.