At just 16 years old, Miss Illinois’ Teen 2026, Brooke Herod, has already built a legacy of compassion through her nonprofit organization, The Healing Hands Projects. What began as a simple act of kindness for a friend has grown into a statewide and national mission dedicated to bringing comfort to children and families facing medical challenges.
Almost a decade ago, a close friend of Brooke’s was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and required IV treatments every six to eight weeks. Wanting to support her friend, Brooke spent treatment days making crafts and playing games with her. But when the IV was removed, she saw the pain and bruising it often left behind.
Wanting to help, Brooke turned to a simple craft her mother had learned in Girl Scouts: a washcloth bunny filled with an ice pack, commonly known as a “Boo-Boo Bunny.” The bunny served as both a comforting toy and a soothing source of relief after treatment.
What started as one bunny for one friend quickly turned into something much bigger.
“The nurses told me they had an easier time giving treatments because the kids looked forward to using their Boo-Boo Bunnies,” Brooke said. “Hearing this gave me joy and motivation, and I wanted to give that to more people.”
Since then, Brooke has donated approximately 7,000 Boo-Boo Bunnies, along with countless comfort items, including LEGO kits, fidgets, arts and crafts supplies, blankets, baby items, and maternity supplies.
Leading a nonprofit at an early age has come with challenges, but it has also taught Brooke valuable skills in communication, networking, and advocacy. When the COVID-19 pandemic made hospital donations difficult, she adapted by partnering with pediatric offices, school nurses, urgent care centers, and other organizations to continue reaching children in need.
Her dedication paid off in 2025 when The Healing Hands Projects officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Today, the organization continues to expand through partnerships with community groups, businesses, and Girl Scout troops, creating opportunities for others to join its mission of service and compassion.
Brooke’s connection to Ronald McDonald House Charities® began through determination and a simple goal: finding places where her comfort items could make a difference.
“I first got involved with Ronald McDonald House Charities in the old-fashioned way,” she shared, “by making phone calls to facilities across Illinois and either shipping items or personally delivering them.”
As Brooke learned more about Ronald McDonald House Charities and its mission to support not only patients but also their families, her passion for the organization grew.
Her involvement with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois began in 2024 when she toured the Springfield House while competing in the Miss America Opportunity. Since then, she has donated Boo-Boo Bunnies, baby supplies, and comfort items while becoming more involved with events, including attending the Red Shoe Gala in Springfield, which celebrated 40 years of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois. One moment that left a lasting impression came during the gala, when Brooke heard the story of a family that had stayed at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois.
“It made me realize that although my main focus was bringing comfort to patients, their families dropped everything they were doing to be near their child,” Brooke said. “The family needs to be comforted as well.”
That realization aligns with the mission to keep families close during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Now serving as Miss Illinois’ Teen 2026, Brooke is using her platform to expand the reach of The Healing Hands Projects even further. Through partnerships with organizations like Girl Scouts and other nonprofit groups, she hopes to inspire more young people to discover meaningful ways to serve their communities.
Looking ahead, Brooke’s goals include increasing partnerships with hospitals, expanding service opportunities for Girl Scouts nationwide, and continuing to work alongside organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois to bring comfort to families facing medical challenges.
Most importantly, she hopes her story encourages others to act.
“Through The Healing Hands Projects, I hope to empower future generations with the motivation to serve their communities in a way that makes sense to them and that they can relate to,” Brooke said. “I want to leave a legacy of passion for serving your community, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but out of the compassion and depth of your heart.”
To learn more about The Healing Hands Projects or to get involved, visit healinghandsprojects.org.
Discover ways to volunteer, donate, and support families at Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Illinois.
EXPLORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED