Meet Ava Sklar | President and Founder of Ava Claus and Friends

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ava Sklar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ava, what matters most to you?
The values and principles that matter most to me are compassion, selflessness, and kindness. I think it is important to give back to those less fortunate whether it is through a monetary contribution or a commitment of your time. I’ve made it my mission to give back to those in need and to inspire others to do the same. Over the past ten years, Ava Claus and Friends has inspired a community of kids, adults, and other organizations that strive to spread kindness to children and young adults with special health care needs.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I began Ava Claus and Friends in 2011 when I was 6 years old. I wanted to do something to help kids in need. Over the years I’ve inspired many other kids and adults to help support children who couldn’t care for themselves. More specifically, medically fragile children who require 24-hour intensive care. I partnered with Broward Children’s Center, a facility that offers acute nursing care for children who need intensive assistance. We go to the center monthly to do activities with the kids living there, run a holiday drive to raise money and collect toys/supplies, and then vote on how the money that we raised would be used to benefit the center. I’m so grateful to have had such an amazing support system over the years. Thanks to my mom’s constant help I’ve been able to continue and grow my organization to something bigger than I ever could have imagined. When Covid struck, it became near impossible to continue my typical routine. We weren’t allowed inside the medical facility to see and do activities with our friends. After much deliberation, I came up with an idea to adapt to our new situation and maintain a similar system. We would do activities outside while the kids who lived at the center were inside. Our activities most commonly included painting on the windows of the center so that the children could still be involved even though we were separated. Speaking for those who have not been able to speak for themselves has given me the strength to speak up for myself when I haven’t been able to in the past. In the future, I will continue to advocate for and fight for what I believe in.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to town, I would have the best time showing them around. I would wake up early and watch the sunrise on Surfside beach. Then, we would go to Alaska Coffee Roast to enjoy a nice breakfast. During the day I would take my friend to the design district and we would walk around and take some nice pictures. For dinner, we would go to my favorite restaurant Joey’s in Wynwood. now for my favorite part, dessert! We would either get a cookie from Cindy Lou’s Cookies or Nitrogen ice cream from Chilln.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout would definitely go to Kim and Jolie Multack. They have been my “elves” since day one. I could not have collected the generous amount of donations, the outrageous number of toys, and the much-needed supplies for the Broward Children’s Center without their help and commitment. They have been by my side participating in every activity. Kim and Jolie have not only inspired me to continue my efforts but they have also inspired many others to volunteer with us over the years. I also want to thank my family, especially my mom and my aunt Shonna for supporting me and always encouraging me to do my best.

Website: https://www.avaclaus.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avaclaus/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AvaClausandFriends/

Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf8ic4K2DG0&t=10s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu-qu45ccNM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua0AfHjEg5M