Who We Are
About Us
Letter of Life was founded by two high school students in the Philadelphia area who believe that the stories of our oldest generation deserve to be heard, recorded, and remembered.
Gavin Young
Co-Founder
Hi, I am Gavin Young. I am 17 years old I grew up in Ambler PA. My grandfather passed away when I was very little and there are many questions I wish I got to ask him. I Co-founded Letter of Life to ensure that all stories are remembered and for kids like me to have documentation of their grandparents stories after they are gone.
Eli Xie
Co-Founder
Hi, my name is Eli Xie. I am 17 years old and I grew up in Lansdale, PA. My grandparents from my father's side passed away before I was born. On my mother's side, I only ever got the chance to see my grandfather once before he died. I was inspired to Co-found Letter of Life to make up for the time I never had with my grandparents.
Our Process
Each Letter of Life is created through a series of three personal interview sessions, each lasting 45 to 60 minutes, conducted by phone or video call. Our structured yet conversational approach guides residents through the full arc of their lives.
Session 1: Beginnings
Early life, family, childhood, education. Where they came from and the world they grew up in.
Session 2: The Middle Chapters
Career, relationships, turning points, proudest moments. The years that shaped who they became.
Session 3: Reflections
Reflections, advice, messages to family, what they want remembered. The wisdom they want to leave behind.
After the interviews are complete, our team carefully transforms the conversations into two written deliverables: a biographical profile capturing the full arc of the resident's life, and a one-page Letter of Life, a personal letter written in the resident's own voice.
Each piece is reviewed with the resident before being finalized. Completed stories are delivered to families as printed keepsakes and, with the resident's explicit consent, published on our digital archive.
Our Values
Dignity
Every person's story matters, regardless of who is there to hear it.
Voluntarism
We operate at no cost to facilities or residents. This is a gift, not a service.
Authenticity
We write in each resident's voice, not ours. These are their words and their stories.
Privacy
Residents choose what to share and whether their story is published. Nothing is public without explicit consent.