During her first return visit to her orphanage, she saw how happy the children were as they enjoyed cake and ice cream she and her parents brought. She thought how such a simple treat that she takes for granted genuinely brightened their faces. Soon after returning home, she rallied her second-grade class to raise funds and they quickly had enough money to pay for another sweets party for her orphanage. Inspired by the success of her charitable endeavor, Krissy set a new goal of funding sweets parties for 20 more orphanages. After diligently sending sticker-filled fundraiser letters and persistent phone calls to friends and family, funds poured in and she quickly doubled up her goal to 40. The “Sweets for the Holidays” Campaign, as she called it, has turned global. Soon after, pictures of sugar-smeared faces and letters of gratitude from orphans came from orphanages in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. It would inspire Krissy to do more!

In 2013, with the help of her mom, Krissy founded the Kids Rise Inspire Soar Charitable Foundation (KRIS Foundation). Soon after, KRIS Foundation organized its first Lift Up the Orphans (LUTO) mission trip to the Philippines. Participants from the USA, joined by local participants, traversed the Philippines, visiting a dozen orphanages where they hosted “Sweets for the Holidays” parties, and donated rice, clothing, shoes, books, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other items for basic needs. They also built playgrounds (Happy Play-ces) at three of the orphanages. It was during this first LUTO mission trip in 2013 that Krissy was inspired to build an orphanage. KRIS Foundation has since been organizing the LUTO mission trips to the Philippines once every two years.