Group is dedicated to allowing any child to help
December 2, 2009
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
When Sammamish resident Anne Ginther thought about how best to describe the nonprofit organization she helps run, she told a story about how one child’s idea can affect change for many.
A couple of years ago, when Ginther still lived in Iowa, a child from the inner city e-mailed her about wanting to help a friend’s family, which was about to be evicted from their apartment.
Ginther and her fellow organizers at RandomKid equipped the youth with the proper resources and within two weeks, they had raised $20,000, a car and a free home renovation for the family, she said.
And that was just one of the dozens of projects RandomKid has been a part of since December 2005.
“It’s been amazing what we’ve accomplished in the last four years,” Ginther said. “When kids are your boss, anything is possible.”
The organization, which operates nationally and has done humanitarian and fundraising projects in nearly 20 countries, is holding a new and gently used toy sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 12 at Samantha Smith Elementary. The event is in conjunction with the school PTA’s Winter Wonderland Sale, which includes a variety of gifts. Donors can also drop off toys at the school between 3 and 5 p.m. Dec. 11, Ginther said.
Students from Sammamish came up with the idea and are involved in the toy drive, which gives struggling families the opportunity to buy gifts, but at discounted prices, Ginther said. The proceeds from the sale of those items will benefit Seattle’s First Place, an organization that helps homeless students and families.
“There’s a lot of kids helping out,” said Margaret Mead Elementary sixth-grader Mariana Cuevas. She has been working with a few Sammamish youth to plan the toy drive and sale.
Cuevas said people seem to be drawn to RandomKid because they see children taking action, rather than adults telling them what to do — they see youth empowering each other.
“It’s focused a lot on kids,” she said. “If they see kids, it’s like, ‘oh wow, we can help out.’”
RandomKid began when 10-year-old Talia Leman, of Iowa, had a vision to raise $1 million for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in late summer of 2005, according to Ginther and the organization’s Web site.
Leman organized a national “Trick-or-Treat for the Levee Catastrophe” campaign through e-mails and a Web site.
She garnered corporate support, as well as support from “random kids” around the country.
Leman appeared on national television and radio.
Ginther, living in Iowa at the time, heard about Leman’s efforts and decided to partner with the Leman family to found RandomKid.
“A lot of us felt compelled to do something,” Ginther said. “We got so much traction right away that the governor of Iowa invited us to a photo op.”
Leman asked the governor to tell the nation’s governors to spread the word and it worked. Her campaign eventually raised $10 million.
Cuevas said she joined because she wanted to help people, but also found inspiration in the fact that a child formed the organization.
“One thing I liked about RandomKid is that any kid can come up to the organization with any random idea and they’ll try to make it happen,” Cuevas said.
At age 13, Leman received the 2008 World of Children Founders Youth Award, also known as the Children’s Nobel Prize.
Today Ginther runs the organization from Sammamish with Leman acting as the CEO in Iowa. Children from around the world e-mail or post ideas to the RandomKid Web site and the non-profit’s organizers connect them to necessary resources.
“We truly help any random kid help others,” Ginther said. “You don’t have to be the conforming, perfect child. You just be who you are and do what you do and you’ll do it best.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
When Sammamish resident Anne Ginther thought about how best to describe the nonprofit organization she helps run, she told a story about how one child’s idea can affect change for many.
A couple of years ago, when Ginther still lived in Iowa, a child from the inner city e-mailed her about wanting to help a friend’s family, which was about to be evicted from their apartment.
As part of an effort to generate money for RandomKid, Anne Ginther agreed to catch some fish at Pike Place Market. Contributed
Ginther and her fellow organizers at RandomKid equipped the youth with the proper resources and within two weeks, they had raised $20,000, a car and a free home renovation for the family, she said.
And that was just one of the dozens of projects RandomKid has been a part of since December 2005.
“It’s been amazing what we’ve accomplished in the last four years,” Ginther said. “When kids are your boss, anything is possible.”
The organization, which operates nationally and has done humanitarian and fundraising projects in nearly 20 countries, is holding a new and gently used toy sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 12 at Samantha Smith Elementary. The event is in conjunction with the school PTA’s Winter Wonderland Sale, which includes a variety of gifts. Donors can also drop off toys at the school between 3 and 5 p.m. Dec. 11, Ginther said.
Students from Sammamish came up with the idea and are involved in the toy drive, which gives struggling families the opportunity to buy gifts, but at discounted prices, Ginther said. The proceeds from the sale of those items will benefit Seattle’s First Place, an organization that helps homeless students and families.
“There’s a lot of kids helping out,” said Margaret Mead Elementary sixth-grader Mariana Cuevas. She has been working with a few Sammamish youth to plan the toy drive and sale.
Cuevas said people seem to be drawn to RandomKid because they see children taking action, rather than adults telling them what to do — they see youth empowering each other.
“It’s focused a lot on kids,” she said. “If they see kids, it’s like, ‘oh wow, we can help out.’”
RandomKid began when 10-year-old Talia Leman, of Iowa, had a vision to raise $1 million for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in late summer of 2005, according to Ginther and the organization’s Web site.
Leman organized a national “Trick-or-Treat for the Levee Catastrophe” campaign through e-mails and a Web site.
She garnered corporate support, as well as support from “random kids” around the country.
Leman appeared on national television and radio.
Ginther, living in Iowa at the time, heard about Leman’s efforts and decided to partner with the Leman family to found RandomKid.
“A lot of us felt compelled to do something,” Ginther said. “We got so much traction right away that the governor of Iowa invited us to a photo op.”
Leman asked the governor to tell the nation’s governors to spread the word and it worked. Her campaign eventually raised $10 million.
Cuevas said she joined because she wanted to help people, but also found inspiration in the fact that a child formed the organization.
“One thing I liked about RandomKid is that any kid can come up to the organization with any random idea and they’ll try to make it happen,” Cuevas said.
At age 13, Leman received the 2008 World of Children Founders Youth Award, also known as the Children’s Nobel Prize.
Today Ginther runs the organization from Sammamish with Leman acting as the CEO in Iowa. Children from around the world e-mail or post ideas to the RandomKid Web site and the non-profit’s organizers connect them to necessary resources.
“We truly help any random kid help others,” Ginther said. “You don’t have to be the conforming, perfect child. You just be who you are and do what you do and you’ll do it best.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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