A fledgling organization on its way to nonprofit status is holding several fundraisers in the coming weeks to bring money and attention to its “random act of kindness” work.

Caleb’s Ark was inspired by Amber Vann’s son Caleb, who was born with a rare congenital heart defect because his heart had failed to split into the two halves that most people have.

Doctors told her less than halfway through her pregnancy that Caleb probably wouldn’t survive after birth, Vann said. They later said he might survive, but would “have a lot wrong with him,” she said. They told her to consider terminating the pregnancy.

Vann, however, wouldn’t hear of it. After Caleb was born in April 2012, he underwent an eight-and-a-half hour surgery with donor valves to “reroute his plumbing,” as the family calls it.

Caleb will require more surgeries throughout his life to install progressively bigger donor valves, and he visits a cardiologist every six months or so. But otherwise he is a happy, normal little boy.

“He came back (from the surgery) with nothing else wrong,” Vann said. “He does not have a syndrome. He does not have any other problems.”

Vann was thankful for her son’s health, and at the same time noticed many posts on Facebook from friends complaining about minor irritations.

“What really inspired me was seeing everyone complain so much,” she said. “That’s what made me realize how bad people think they have it when they don’t have anything to worry about.”

Vann went into action with A Random act of Kindness, which inspired the “Ark” part of the organization’s name. She collected items for the Ronald McDonald House, helped at homeless shelters and donated 400 sets of coloring books and crayons to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.

“I want to do so much more than I’m able to do,” she said.

Vann is working on getting nonprofit status, which would allow her to receive donations from local businesses to help with her random acts of kindness.

“Families with ill children will be our No. 1 focus, but we’re going to leave our options open to help anybody we can,” Vann said. “The possibilities are endless.”

The organization will have a car wash Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at O’Reilly Auto Parts at 1507 Holland Road.

In addition, a fundraiser on Aug. 3 at Rita’s Italian Ice, 882 N. Main St., will allow customers to direct a portion of sales to the organization if they mention Caleb’s Ark when ordering.

The organization also is seeking other businesses to partner with.

For more information on Caleb’s Ark, contact Vann at 803-7500 or calebsark@yahoo.com. The group can also be followed on Facebook at Caleb’s ARK — A Random Act of Kindness.