Love From Levi
Building a national digital engine to honor a local legacy and spread brightness to pediatric patients.
A Digital Beacon for the Iowa City & Coralville Community
In the heart of the Iowa City and Coralville corridor, the impact of the Love From Levi nonprofit is felt deeply. At Team 218 Web Services, our partnership with this organization began with a singular mission: to honor a three-year-old boy’s adventurous spirit by spreading “brightness” to families facing pediatric cancer.
At the age of 3, Levi was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain cancer. While he was taken too soon, his 13-month journey showed everyone how to find light in the darkest times. We designed and launched this platform to ensure that light reaches families nationwide through the distribution of customized books and toys.
While the organization is based in Iowa City—home to the world-renowned UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital—Love From Levi is a fully independent nonprofit. Their mission is nationwide, and their website is the central hub that makes that reach possible.
HOSPITAL Books Distributed
Locations Nationwide
Cost to Nonprofit
Hospital Book Distribution by State
The UX of Empathy: Designing for Stress-Filled Environments
When families are navigating a pediatric cancer diagnosis, their “cognitive load” is at its limit. They are often browsing from hospital rooms at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, using mobile devices on congested Wi-Fi networks. Team 218 Web Services applied a performance-first UX strategy to ensure the site was a help, not a hindrance.
Visual Symbolism and Branding
The design isn’t just aesthetic; it’s a tribute. We utilized a specific palette and font choice to mirror Levi’s favorite things, creating an atmosphere of joy rather than a clinical memorial.
- “Blaze” Blue: The primary site color is a direct nod to Levi’s favorite color and his love for Blaze and the Monster Machines.
- The Heart & Star: The heart represents the love Levi gave; the star represents his bright spirit and sense of adventure.
- Frictionless Navigation: We ensured the most critical actions—donating and requesting a book—are persistent and accessible in one click.
Automating Logistics with Gravity Forms
The “Hospital Book Order” system is the engine of the organization’s reach. We built a custom workflow using Gravity Forms that handles:
- Conditional Logic: Tailoring questions based on the specific disease and needs of the child.
- Inventory Notification: Alerting the fulfillment team immediately when a request comes in.
- Data Integrity: Ensuring sensitive communication is handled with the utmost privacy and security.
Local Roots, National Impact: The SEO Strategy
As a leading provider of SEO in Iowa City, we knew this site needed to rank locally for donors while maintaining a national presence for those seeking pediatric cancer support. We implemented custom JSON-LD Schema to define Love From Levi as a nationwide nonprofit, while tagging local geographic markers to capture the Eastern Iowa market.
By optimizing for terms like “Pediatric cancer support nonprofit” and “Customized books for children in hospitals,” we’ve helped the organization expand its footprint far beyond the borders of Johnson County.
Ongoing Partnership: Maintenance & Care
At Team 218 Web Services, we don’t just launch and leave. We provide the Website Maintenance & Care package at no charge to the organization. This ensures the site remains secure, the plugins are updated, and the performance remains at its peak. This pro-bono commitment allows every dollar donated to Love From Levi to go directly toward gifts for children, rather than overhead costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Love From Levi affiliated with the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital?
No. While Love From Levi is based in Iowa City and distributes information to parents of young patients at the hospital, they are a completely independent nonprofit organization.
How does the website help with the distribution of books?
The website features a custom-built order system that allows hospital staff and families nationwide to request customized books and toys, streamlining the logistics for the nonprofit team.
Why did Team 218 build this site for free?
We are committed to the Iowa City, Coralville and surrounding communities. Using our technical skills to help an organization that brings brightness to families facing pediatric cancer is part of our core mission as a local service provider.