Mike Alfaro: Building community and hope with St. Jude

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Mike Alfaro walked around the campus, surrounded by buildings where groundbreaking research was taking place and patients were being cared for, with a sense of wonder and reflection. Each sight evoked thoughts of his family.

He was accompanied by several content creators and influencers who had been invited to tour the campus of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® in Memphis, Tennessee, and learn more about its mission.

As a father, he felt an instant connection."I saw parents with babies the same age as my daughter, who was about six months old, and there were people helping them through such a difficult time," he said.

It was at that moment that the Guatemalan writer and creator, now based in Los Angeles, said he solidified his commitment to St. Jude, where the staff strives daily to ensure every child gets the chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. 

"What struck me was seeing the happiness of the children undergoing treatment.; I think that motivated me to get more involved, to try to do more with St. Jude so people know how incredible their work is with those families," he said.

Alfaro is widely recognized for developing Sí Sabo Kids, a collection of books, puzzles and games that foster early Spanish language development while immersing young minds in the colorful tapestry of Latino heritage. This project, along with his creation of the bestselling game Millennial Lotería and his collaborations with various brands and engaging social media content, celebrates identity and bilingualism among Hispanics in the United States. His work aims to represent a new generation of Latinos, he said, regardless of their country of origin.

"I remember walking into an area of the hospital where there are many flags from different countries, and I saw that Guatemala was there. That was very important to me because I understood that this mission is global," he said. 

Currently, Alfaro uses his digital platform to inspire others to learn about and support the St. Jude mission. He also raises awareness at public events, such as the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in Southern California this April, where Mike will have a performance on the Children's Stage. It will combine his passion for culture and education with his commitment to St. Jude, donating all the proceeds from his book sales during the event to the institution. “It is a way to build community and hope with St. Jude,” he said.  

"It fills me with joy to be able to do this," he said. “For me, it provides crucial support exactly when it's needed the most."