Local teens to be featured on The Nate Berkus Show Jan 27

Kelsey Josund, Maddy Berkman, Sierra Alef in New Yor

Local teen fundraisers, The Pink Polka Dots Junior Guild, will be featured on the January 27 episode of the nationally syndicated Nate Berkus Show, January 27 at 5 pm on Channel 6/16 KONG. 

Nate Berkus is an award-winning decorator who appeared as a feature design expert for The Oprah Winfrey Show from 2002-2010, before starting his own show in September 2010. 

The segment about the Pink Polka Dots and the custom art cards the girls sell to raise money for brain cancer research was filmed in early January in New York City.

The Pink Polka Dots (PPD) was founded by three now-teenaged classmates, in memory of their friend Sydney Coxon who died at age eleven of a brain tumor. As a Seattle Children’s Hospital Junior Guild, the majority of members are teens or younger.

“No one should have to go through what Sydney’s family went through,” says guild co-founder Kelsey Josund. “We want to prevent any other family or child from being affected by brain tumors.”

Maddy, Sierra, and Kelsey at the Nate Berkus show.

PPD raises money through fundraisers such as golf tournaments, benefit concerts, and high school dances, and sells art cards and handmade jewelry at markets and online. After the episode airs, The Nate Berkus Show will aid online sales of cards by directing interest from their website.

Since its founding in 2006, PPD has raised over $330,000 -- more than any other Children’s Hospital Junior Guild -- for brain cancer researcher Dr. Jim Olson. Dr. Olson’s lab is responsible for groundbreaking research into tumor detection, removal, and treatment, including “tumor paint” (featured in Time Magazine, July 19, 2007).

The guild will be featured in the “Nate’s Finds” segment of the show. Founding members Kelsey Josund, Sierra Alef, and Maddy Berkman were flown to New York for the filming and interviewed on behalf of the guild. 

The Guild sells art cards and handmade jewelry

In the Seattle area the episode will air January 27 at 5 pm on Channel 6/16 KONG; see the Nate Berkus Show website for information about airtimes in other areas. For more information or to donate or buy cards online visit the Pink Polka Dots Guild website, contact them by email, or phone Kelsey Josund at 206-364-8021.