Lily the Bernese Mountain dog is very proud of all of her heroes. These kids
are really something - they are very active in their community and have
learned the importance of giving. You can be one of Lily's Heroes
too! Want to learn more or need some ideas? Click on "Become a Hero". Is
one of your pals doing something really cool that helps people?
Check out "Nominate a Kid".
Lily hopes
that kids (and parents) will be inspired by these stories. Many of
these ideas can be copied and carried out right in your own neighborhood.
If you appear on our website in this section, you will be entitled to a free certificate.
When Cameron was 11, he was diagnosed with a benign bone tumor in his leg. Having already missed several months of school with a related medical problem, Cameron underwent several surgeries and was fitted for a full leg cast. During the next several months, given his inability to participate in any physical activities with his friends, Cameron decided to learn how to program apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Cameron taught himself how to develop apps by reading what he found on the internet, by watching Stanford University professor videos on itunes university on itunes and by trial and error.
After several months, Cameron submitted his first app, a painting and drawing program called iSketch, to Apple. It was approved by Apple in December 2009 and, since then, has been available for purchase for $.99 on the itunes App Store. While he never expected to sell very many of his apps, Cameron decided that if he made money he would donate a substantial portion of his earnings to the Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA's Child Life/Child Development programs in Westwood and Santa Monica, California so that teens and preteens in the hospital would have improved hospital stays. His hope was that his success in developing an app at only 11 years old and his decision to donate to the hospital where he was treated would result in some positive publicity for the hospital, even if he did not raise much money.
Wesley Prankard camped out in the cold for 24 hours during March break. His goal was to raise $2400.00 and awareness for the conditions in Attawapiskat, Ontario; a First Nation reserve on James Bay in which 1,000 of the 1,300 residents are said to be homeless. In the end Wesley raised over $5,800.00!
In recognition of his efforts, Wesley was asked to go and deliver the aid in person to the community along with other TrueNorthAid volunteers and workers. While in Attawapiskat, the Deputy Chief presented Wesley with gifts including an Eagle's Feather to honour him and his fundraising achievements on their behalf.
Upon seeing the conditions first-hand, Wes has committed to making his camp-out an annual event as well as additional events to raise both funds and awareness.
Madi Slaughter decided that she wanted to assist the people of Haiti after the earthquake. After some thinking and conversation with her mom, Madi came up with the name Hats4Haiti. She wanted to collect hats, baseball caps and visors to keep the Haitians shaded from the sun to prevent dehydration (which she learned about in 2nd grade) and skin cancer (her grandfather has had numerous spots taken off his skin). Madi developed a Powerpoint presentation and pitched it to her 3rd grade teacher. Madi then wrote a paper, designed her display board and donation box, and pitched her idea to the principal of her school. Madi got approval so she got busy writing supply lists, making poster boards, and designing a donation box. She did chores around the house to print over 550 flyers that were distributed in her school. With the assitance of her 13 year old babysitter, they printed, cut and grouped all of the flyers for distribution.
Madi has been collecting hats for over a month now and has reached the 500 mark...with lots of adult and child size caps, visors, and sun hats (gently used and new). She has kept a poster board in the garage and has been sorting and tallying her hats. Hats4Haiti will run through April 30, 2010 and then the hats will be boxed and distributed to numerous foundations and missionaries to be distributed to the Haitian people.
The Plastic Patrol, was created by kids like you! Kids that want to save the oceans! You can help!
Merit Leighton is an actor she has 7 commercials and a short film on her resume. Marlowe Peyton just began acting and has just wrapped filming on the new Jennifer Lopez movie "The Backup Plan", "The Jay Leno Show" and a new pilot "The Incredible Bean Children".
The two girls were greatly effected by Oprah's Earth Day show. They felt that they just had to do something to help save the oceans. Merit and Marlowe are very passionate about helping their planet and proactive about plastic and recycling. With their own money from acting, they are acting on their dream to help save the oceans by motivating kids everywhere to do the same!
They created "The Plastic Patrol" in order to begin their global effort to make a difference one kid at a time!
Blare Gooch set out to aid in the emotional support of the Children in Haiti by sending them Teddy Bears. He collected over 32,000 and sent them through Rays of Hope for Haiti International Relief. By collecting enough funds to send a 40 foot container, Blare continues his mission and sends a 20X 18 in. box filled with crayons, paper, jump ropes and balls to ophanages and schools in Haiti.
Eight year old Ricky Springer is not your typical kid. On the outside he is the picture of perfect health, but on the inside his immune system wages war against the most common substance needed for life: Food. Ricky lives with an Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorder, a distinct disease which affects the gastrointestinal track, rendering the patient unable to tolerate food protein.
Because of Ricky's battle to obtain an accurate diagnosis, find appropriate treatment, and live with his disorder, he has decided to take his experiences and make a difference for others. In 2009 he initiated the Racing for a Cause campaign. As a dirt track go-kart racer, Ricky is using his racing platform to educate everyone he meets about these disorders, as well as raise money to support APFED (The American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders) in educating physicians and the general public about these disorders. In 2009, the Team estimates they educated over 3000 people in person about these disorders through various events and plans a much more aggressive campaign during 2010, participating in health fairs and community events to spread awareness of these disorders.
My six year old son Jackson was very aware of the Earthquake and devastation it caused to Haiti. He was inspired by hearing stories of people raising money. He decided to plan a ride in our local common and get sponsorship from local friends, family and neighbors.
Jackson helped design a poster to promote his event and gave out sponsor sheets to all his friends. His enthusiasm was contagious and the idea grew and grew until we had to get a permit from the local Council for the numbers wanting to join the ride. We partnered with the Red Cross who gave us promotional material and we even got our local cafe to donate hot chocolate for all the riders on the day.
With lots of friends there to help make the event run smoothly...Ride 4 Haiti was on! Jackson spoke and reminded all the children why they were there and why it was so important to raise the money for Haiti. It was a truly inspirational day, led by the enthusiasm and commitment of the young children. They all managed to ride their five laps around Clapham Common, their local park. The parents were very supportive of their children and their desire to make a difference and raise money for Haiti. So far the children have raised £1,200 for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal. Jackson will be going to the Red Cross personally to donate the Ride 4 Haiti money next week.
I believe kids have the power to make a difference. They can inspire and empower each other to be a generation of doers. It is our job as parents to support our kids when they recognize the need to do something and believe in their ability to get it done by supporting them and helping them to take action.
Kaitlin is 11 years old. Her school recently completed a project called "The Nobody Project". It is a genderless, non religious, faceless doll and you choose who she or he is. It teaches others about how even though we are all different we are all the same. Kaitlin chose to do hers on Neurofibromatosis. She chose this topic as her 5 yr old Sister has this disorder. She wanted to educate her school and community on this as it is very unknown to many. She did an amazing job and learned so much more than what she already knew. Her project was chosen to showcase in the front doors of her school and she was interviewed by two local papers. She is a very compassionate young lady and is always there to lend an ear or shoulder to cry on. Her heart is so big and she just wants everyone to learn about her sister's disease. I am so very proud of her. Everyday she continues to teach others. Recently she did a Historica project on Canadian Red Cross. She got an A+ on it as well. She puts her all into these causes. I would like to nominate my daughter Kaitlin as a Hero because she is one to me and her family and we are so very proud of her everyday.
Jamie was diagnosed with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy when she was five year's old. She remembers how scary it was to have to endure the tests conducted overnight and extended nights in the hospital. She wants to provide other children with epilepsy who are staying in the hospital with gift bags of toys, things to do and snacks to help pass the time and make their stay more comfortable. Easter 2010 will be her first drop off of 24 sewn tote bags filled with items Jamie used with her own earned money along with contributions from a generous supporter of her cause. The goal is to continue this twice a year.
Amanda Lamunyon began painting when she was seven years old. She was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at the age of 8. She began reading at the age of 4. In kindergarten she drew all her ABC's instead of cutting out pictures for them. This would be the first sign of Amanda's artistic ability.
She was a happy little girl but her spirit began to wane because of her seeming inability to fit in. Her art changed everything. At seven, her paintings were amazing. No longer did her peers see her ony as a rowdy little girl, but now as an artist. Her spirit began to flourish once again. She began to express herself through painting.
At age 9 she began to paint her impression of the songs she loves. She says she can share her faith through her art and she wants to encourage others with challenges of any kind not to give up, but to dream big dreams. Amanda sells her art andcards for the benefit of sick children.
Amanda will be singing and sharing her art at "Performers on the Rise", in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State University in April, 2010. This is a charity concert and will benefit the Mya Gonzales Foundation and benefit The Rise Schools Nationally.
Because of her desire to encourage others, Amanda has emerged from an inward world to a world of giving and caring. She has become a prolific speaker about the world of Autism. She shares her art and her story with many charities to help raise money for children's health. Her greatest desire is to find the cure and prevention of Autism. Amanda was awarded the 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community National Award.
Neha’s mission is to address the evils associated with orphans/abandoned children and underprivileged children, by motivating individuals to translate empathy into action. To achieve this mission, she has started a non-profit organization called "Empower Orphans."
Neha has been helping create self-sufficiency by supplying the orphaned and underprivileged children with the tools to gain a basic education and technical skills to enable a sustainable livelihood, leading to productive and positive contributions to society. In addition to education, she provides food, clothing, healthcare and medical supplies to establish an effective learning environment.
As Neha’s grandparents live in India, she visits the country every year. In keeping with family tradition, she volunteers at an orphanage each time she visits her grandparent’s hometown, located in northern India. When she was nine years old, she realized that the 200 children who live at the orphanage did not have adequate money to gain a proper education. She felt very sad when she heard this because she knows education is very important. Moreover, it was heartbreaking for her to think that these children had no mother or father to guide them, protect them, or love them.
Instead of internalizing these feelings and just expressing empathy for the orphans and underprivileged children, she decided to take action by raising money. The money would be used to improve the education and overall well being of the children, enabling them to stand on their own feet and become positive contributing members of society.
Neha has already made significant strides towards making a difference in the lives of at least 1000 orphaned and underprivileged children. In 2006, a library was started at the Bal Kunj orphanage. Over the years, she expanded upon the library and has continued to provide stationery to each of the 200 children who live there. In addition, she has provided technical books to 20 children aged between 14-16 years, enabling them to enter a trade and earn a living. Furthermore, steps have been taken to improve the overall well being of the children. Each child is provided with nutritious food, warm clothes, footwear and blankets to combat the severe winters experienced by northern India.
Chasing4Life is a disaster preparedness organization and was started by Alannah Raven's parents many years ago. Alannah grew up around a father that was a firefighter and response worker, and we had created a professional storm chase team as well. Alannah began helping with Chasing4Life very young, and by the age of 13 was involved in severe weather tracking and had learned a about disaster preparedness.
A little over 18 months ago, Alannah began to tour regularly, speaking in schools and at libraries primarily on disaster preparedness and severe weather safety.
In mid-2009, Alannah responded with our disaster response team to disaster zones and assisted in disaster response work, actually heading up a team of responders in Eldora, Iowa after a tragic hail and wind storm that damaged most of the homes in the small community.
At home, Alannah's love for horses had her rescuing horses intended for slaughter which is what has recently brought her to her new position with the International Fund For Horses, which is the International Spokesperson for the International Fund For Horses. She is working to support the change in horse slaughter legislation.
Alannah will be touring this year speaking not only on severe weather and disasters again, but will be incorporating her message on horses, discussing disaster preparedness issues for horse owners, horse care, and the need for more legislation regarding horse care. She assisted in designing a small line of t-shirts recently which can be seen on her website, a portion of each shirt going to the IFH, and plans are being made to continue creating more of the same.
Mia (10) and Noah (8) worked to collect items to make Christmas a little brighter for those at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.
Over the last two years the response has been great from their classmates at Dixon Elementary, from our church family at Spring Creek Church and from friends. This past year the need was even greater.
Over the past 3 Christmases, Mia and Noah collected over $1,000 worth of items for the Milwaukee Rescue MIssion
Dylan Mahalingam is the founder and CEO of Lil’ MDGs, a unique international development and youth empowerment organization. Dylan is 14 years old and resides in Derry, New Hampshire. Dylan founded Lil' MDGs, a non-profit based in New Hampshire, when he was 9 years old; Lil’ MDGs mission is to leverage the power of the Internet to educate, engage, empower, and inspire children in all corners of the world to help meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Lil’ MDGs now has more than 20,000 volunteers hailing from 39 countries. To date, Lil' MDGs has rallied youth from around the world to raise more than $780,000 for tsunami relief and over $10 million for hurricane relief. In addition, Dylan has mobilized youth to raise funds and resources to build schools, dorms, libraries, playgrounds, community gardens, and more in several countries. To date, through Jayme’s Fund, they have awarded over $70,000 in grants to fund projects around the world. In 2009, Lil’ MDGs was recognized by the United Nations as the best practice in e-content and technological creativity, demonstrating young people’s potential to create outstanding digital content and serving as a platform for people from all UN member states to work together to meet the MDGs.
Dylan is a youth speaker for the United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Development Programme, and he travels internationally to speak to various groups. Dylan is also a panelist and speaker for the United Nations Global Forum on ICT & Development. Dylan was also invited by the UN to work on the UN worldwide campaign on Climate Change. Dylan is part of a small tribe of designers and architects in the field of K-12 education. In this tribe, Dylan represents children in grades K-12 in the USA, and he helps to reshape the learning environment of the future. Dylan is the only youth and only student in this committee of adults and experts in the field. Dylan has been featured in various media, both nationally and internationally, and will be featured in a new book to be published in 2010 by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council of Communications and Media. Most recently, Disney has selected Lil’ MDGs to be one of its ongoing participating volunteer opportunities in NH. Dylan is the recipient of numerous national and international awards for his philanthropic work.
Haven and her friend, Kate organized a readathon to raise money to buy Spanish books for a library in a remote village of the Dominican Republic. Together through their efforts, they raised $450 to by the books!
