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Arizona boy creates thank-you cards via kiosks for US troops

December 15, 2011

After nearly two years of devotion to writing messages of thanks and creating hand-decorated cards, 11-year-old Stephen Goodman from Surprise, Ariz., has made more than 180,000 personalized thank-you cards for every U.S. service member deployed overseas.

Goodman worked with Kodak to design two of his own Kodak Personal Greeting Card templates on the Kodak Picture Kiosk, and the company printed and donated more than 100,000 copies of his custom-designed cards to his cause. In 2011, Kodak created a webpage, so Goodman could share his story and progress with supporters and also hosted a Fourth of July card drive at KODAK Picture Kiosks in retail stores nationwide. People around the country were able to print and donate Goodman's cards at the Kiosks to help him reach his goal

"I really appreciate all of the support I have received from everyone who has helped me reach my goal," Goodman said in a Kodak press release. "My family and friends, and many people I have never even met, have donated their time and resources to help me create the cards and encouraged me to keep going. I hope these cards let all the troops know that they are appreciated and never forgotten, no matter how far they are from home."

Goodman first caught the attention of Kodak in 2010. The company was moved by his patriotic mission and quickly became dedicated to helping Goodman attain his goal, Larry Trevarthen, vice president of worldwide marketing, Retail Systems Solutions, Eastman Kodak Company, said in the release.

Goodman's two greeting card designs are available on Kodak Picture Kiosks nationwide.

Goodman and his family today are visiting Luke Air Force Base to bestow his 180,000 personalized cards to representatives from a non-profit organization that will help manage the task of delivering his cards to the troops.

"A lot of soldiers who served in Vietnam, like my grandpa, never got any support or thanks for their service," Goodman said. "I wanted to make sure that every soldier serving our country today knows they are appreciated and never feels forgotten."

Read more about photo kiosks.