From Finn Case

Posted by TeamCharlie on January 26, 2009 under Kids are Heroes | Be the First to Comment

Meet Finn Case. He is 7 and in the second grade. He hails from Alberta, Canada. He is receiving a check from the Westglen school in Edmonton, tomorrow. This is the speech that he wrote which he intends to deliver:

Finn Case Westglen School January 27, 2009

Hi everyone. I am Finn Case, I am 7 and in Grade 2.

I want to say thank you for your donation today. I was so surprised when I heard that you raised so much money so quickly. It’s really great. When I was 4, I found out that people in the world didn’t have clean water and were getting sick. I was so surprised that I kept talking about it and asking my mom about it. I feel bad for them because it just isn’t fair. We have all clean water here in Canada and so I thought I can do something to help..When I was 5, I started to raise money to build a well in Africa. I built a little well in kindergarten when I was doing a project about pulleys and levers and started collecting money in it for a real well. I also started doing lemonade stands at my house before I went to kindergarten in the mornings. Then I talked to my class and my kindergarten class did a lemonade stand at school and we raised $77!

I went to McNally High School and did a presentation. They decided to have a hot dog sale and donate money. I did a presentation to some adults where my mom used to work and they gave me donations. My first big donation was from Sid and he gave me $500! When I was 6, I decided I wanted to have a Benefit Concert to raise money. I talked to my principal and she said I could have it at the school if I organized it and played my guitar. I said “of course!” I talked to my guitar teacher and a guy in his band and then I phoned some other musicians. I got a band of 8 people and me and then we had a benefit concert at my school and over 300 people came. We raised 3000$ there. I wrote more than 65 letters to people with businesses and to big companies too asking if they would donate, and some did.

I did a presentation to 120 investment bankers at CIBC Wood Gundy in December and they did a raffle and made a donation. Also Nick Lees donated a story about my well in the newspaper and then even strangers just started to mail me some donations. And I did a talk for the grade 6’s here and then they decided to raise money too! Your donation will help 6,100 people in 3 different communities in southwest Uganda Africa. I wanted to help kids and families. There is an orphanage and schools there so lots of kids and adults will be helped and even all the babies born after. They will always have water once their wells are built. Right now the kids and ladies walk 6 hours to a dirty water bog to get their water. They don’t have a choice because it is the only water there is and they have to have water to live. They spend most of their day getting water so they don’t have time to work or go to school or play. They even get so sick from the dirty water that they sometimes die.

My project is to build three wells; three sets of latrines and hand washing stations; and to give them education about clean water chains so they don’t get sick anymore and can be safe. Then the kids can go to school and the adults can work or stay home with their kids instead of spending so much time getting water. My brother and I have 2 pen pals there that live at the orphanage where I am building the wells. They are really excited that they will get to have clean water and go to school! There it is a treat to be able to go to school.

I am building my project through Ryan’s Well Foundation.

I researched when I was 5 who could build my well. I found out that there was a boy just like me who had started building wells when he was 7 and that he had made a Foundation. His name is Ryan. He lives in Ontario. He is 17 now. So we called Ryan’s Well Foundation and asked them if they could build my well and they said yes! I got to meet Ryan and his mom and the director when they made a special trip to Edmonton to visit me and my school in November. I know that some of you came to meet him too and the pictures you showed today are from Ryan. Ryan’s Well Foundation has already started building the first well. Right now for two weeks, the director of Ryan’s Well Foundation and the program coordinator and Ryan’s dad are all there visiting my well sites to see the construction. They are taking lots of pictures and maybe even a video of it and will give that to me when they get back. Maybe later I can show you these then you can see where your money is going and how it’s helping 6,100 people there.

So far I have raised $22,924.00. With your donation of $1,250 I will have $24,174. My total goal to finish my project is $28,750. So now I only need $4,576. to finish!! I am getting so close now. I will keep on trying to raise enough money to finish my project. Thank you to the Earth Patrol group and Mrs. Hut the teacher who does it with the kids and all the students, teachers and families who helped raise this money.

And thank you to Mrs. Lundell who has helped me too. Even her mom and aunties helped with donations. You are making a big difference! And all the kids and moms and dads in Uganda will be so grateful.

I am so touched too and happy. Thank you.

To see more about Finn Case and other kids like him, visit KidsAreHeroes.com