Not Just an Awards Ceremony
Posted by Gabe on October 5, 2009 under Kids Are Heroes Day, Kids are Heroes | 
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I discovered today that one person’s perception of Kids Are Heroes Day is that it is just an award ceremony at a mall for a bunch of kids. They didn’t see the real meaning of it. Maybe that is my fault because I haven’t written a post like this explaining what it means to at least one person – me. To an outsider maybe that is all it appears to be. Let’s see if we can correct that.
Kids Are Heroes Day is a celebration of all the kids on our web site regardless of whether or not they are in attendance – it is another avenue to inspire like minded children to get involved in their communities. This is the spirit of the children on the site – to be able to bond with fellow “heroes” and raise awareness to her cause in any way they can. It has little to do about receiving a certificate from a mall. If that were the case I doubt that any of the kids would attempt to come from out of town.
Although this is a local event the Kids Are Heroes concept is a global one. We plan to use this event as a springboard to get national attention. Through our Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts we are doing just that.
Let me quote a person who also “gets” what Kids Are Heroes Day really means: “It is events like these that can create a new and different awareness not only about the causes these kids are pushing forward, but more importantly to awaken the sleeping activist in all of us!” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks Jamie.
Every child that attends Kids Are Heroes Day will put a stamp of approval on what the Kids Are Heroes community represents – and that is to inspire other children to join them in doing good things for other people. Each child will raise awareness about what he/she is doing and perhaps inspire one or more kids to follow in their footsteps. The concept of the Kids Are Heroes web site has already been proven – it is acting to motivate children all over the world to emulate their peers by giving to others.
Let’s take a look at the kids who will be at Kids Are Heroes Day:
Winston Duncan started Wheels to Africa which has supplied over 2000 bikes to people in Africa.
Addison White is a 10-year-old who takes his rescued greyhound to nursing homes to visit the elderly.
Mercy Escoto is an 8-year-old spokesperson for MDA and raises funds for them several times a month. She also suffers from the disease.
Calista Pierce is a 9-year-old who makes crafts and sells them so that her brother Austin can participate in the local chapter of the Special Olympics. She (and Austin) are coming from 300 miles away. They sold candy bars to support their trip.
Evan Frank is a 7-year-old who is funding his second well to be drilled in Africa.
Cati Grant is a 16-year-old coming all the way from San Diego, California. She has a web site that discourages bullying and cyberbullying and also created a club in her school that is anti-bullying.
Adele Taylor is coming from 180 miles away – she is 14 years old and has created Adele’s Literacy Library where she promotes literacy by giving away books to libraries, schools and hospitals.
John Sun is 9 years old and last Christmas he delivered 35 gift baskets to Shady Grove Hospital – specifically to go to the premature ward as he was premature when he was born. He got people to knit caps, blankets and make quilts and convinced Boyd’s Bears to give him a discount so that he could purchase toys for them.
MaryMargaret O’Neill is a ten-year-old girl who started the Kids Are Heroes web site and who has raised over $2700.00 to give the gift of music to kids in Children’s Hospital.
Miranda Mossburg raised $400.00 to fix a roof being used to shelter two blind horses.
Julia and Anna Lemick have given up their birthday gifts to provide funds for their favorite charities – Toys for Tots and Labrador Retriever Rescue.
Casey Landahl is just 5 years old. She gave up her birthday gifts for a local cat rescue organization.
Kayleigh Crimmins is just 6 years old. She sells toys and whatever else she can to provide ballistic vests for K9s.
Emily Zimmerman held a basket bingo that raised over $6300.00 to support two organizations that help families deal with catastrophic illnesses.
Nichelle Upton is always giving of herself through the Youth Action Corps. She works with seniors at a nursing home, raises funds for the Lions Club – her list goes on and on.
Kids from Thurmont Middle School collected over $1400.00 for the St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
We have several key people (our “adult heroes”) from the local armed forces, the sheriff’s department and a school guidance counselor handing out the awards. In addition we have chorus groups and other young musicians from various schools to come and play so that they can be a part of this event.
So no, this is not just an awards ceremony at a mall.
Some of the kids are still trying to fund raise to get here from out of town. It would be helpful if you left a comment telling others why you think this event is worth sending kids to.
Kids Are Heroes day is Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 10AM-4PM at the Francis Scott Key mall in Frederick, Maryland.
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