Have you ever felt a strong need to do something? Like you are being urged on from an influence bigger than yourself? That feeling that drives you daily to act?
This same feeling to honor their late son and help others wouldn’t leave Richfield residents Karen and Rick Poulsen. So, they acted on that feeling.
The I Love Us Project was created in memory of their son Tanner Kem Poulson, who believed everyone had the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. Tanner was a behavior analyst working with mentally challenged individuals and he absolutely loved his clients, his parents said.
He could often be found taking his clients to the movies, out on walks, building LEGO kits, metal detecting, or going out to dinner. To him, these individuals were no different than anyone else and deserved to be happy. Tanner also served on a Human Rights committee fighting for the rights of the people he loved so much. Tanner was soft spoken and gentle, but his actions were loud and powerful, according to his parents.
Tanner was a talented LEGO artist, designing and creating his own LEGO mosaic masterpieces and selling his designs online. He was recognized internationally in WOW magazine for his creative talent just a few days after his passing. LEGO was truly his passion from a very young age and this passion began to rub off on his family. He would spend hours with his nieces and nephews building the newest sets he had acquired and he absolutely loved every minute of it, his parents shared.
Tanner didn’t just love his family or his friends or the mentally challenged individuals that he worked with, he loved everyone. His goal in life was to see a need and fill it, regardless of who you might be.
There were many times he shared this dream with his mother and expressed how he planned to make it happen. He began taking opportunities to talk to people and listening to their struggles. When he was able, he would give what he could to lighten their burden, which brought him much joy.
Unfortunately, Tanner’s life ended too soon before he was able to fully realize the fulfillment of his dream. So, in his memory, the I Love Us Project was started.
The project began on Valentine’s Day this year. Two days after his passing, one of Tanner’s Facebook memories popped up. He had posted a picture of his family with the words “I Love Us”. Those three simple words summed up Tanner’s life. “He truly loved us, meaning you, me and everyone else he ever had the pleasure of meeting,” his parents said.
Karen and Rick Poulsen knew Tanner would want them to continue sharing his love with the world. So, they began at his funeral by requesting small, simple LEGO kits in lieu of flowers to be donated to the clients he loved so much. Over the next few months, they were able to donate more than $6,000 worth of LEGO products to his clients and organizations working with mentally challenged individuals.
The pictures shared with the Poulsen’s showed such happiness on the faces of these special people as they received these gifts. The Poulsens say they are sure that Tanner was smiling ear to ear.
But this project was just the start. The family wants to fulfill Tanner’s ultimate dream of seeing a need and filling it.
“The I Love Us Project is more than a non-profit serving those with disabilities…it is the realization of my son’s dreams,” said Tanner’s mother Karen.
“Tanner had such a huge heart and often shared his dream with me of wanting to be able to help people whenever he saw a need. He took the opportunity to do that every chance he could. He had some pretty amazing ideas and I always loved hearing about all his wonderful philanthropic plans for the future. When Tanner passed, we not only lost our son, brother and the most amazing uncle ever…we lost a future of seeing all his wonderful dreams fulfilled. The I Love Us Project is our way of honoring Tanner and his dreams and in turn, healing our hearts,” she said.
“This is a great opportunity to do what our son Tanner wanted to do in his life. See a need, fill a need,” said Tanner’s father Rick. “He’s taught me so much through his example. I try to see others from their point of view, and not be so quick to judge by what I see. We are all inclusive in the ‘us’ of this project.”
The I Love Us project has been getting some love lately with Mountain America Credit Union donating $1,000 to the cause last week. There is currently a fundraising campaign until Dec. 10. Here, every dollar is being matched by the Love Is Never Wasted Foundation up to $3,000.
All are invited to take part in spreading Tanner’s mission across the globe. Visit www.iloveusproject.com to find ways you can help support the I Love Us Project. Every little bit helps bring a smile to someone less fortunate.
Jeff Raisor
Contributing Writer
