GlaxoSmithKline "Orange Day" Activity Benefits Stand Up For Kids
Employees from GlaxoSmithKline set aside a few minutes of their recent Tucson regional conference for
a briefing on the challenges faced by America's homeless youth and street kids. As part of their corporation's "Orange Day" initiative,
the attendees exhibited their organizational acumen by assembling 100 food packs in just a few minutes. The group also "passed the ziploc bag"
and collected a significant cash contribution. The food packs will be distributed to street kids by the Tucson program of STANDUP FOR KIDS
"Orange Day" is an initiative within GlaxoSmithKline designed to create a culture of volunteerism among the corporation's employees.
Local 5th-grader leads fundraiser, donates proceeds to StandUp For Kids
By Jake Richmond
Public Relations Director, STANDUP FOR KIDS - Tucson chapter
DJ and his Bake Sale Poster
TUCSON, Ariz. -- It's almost Christmas, and millions of kids are busy
tweaking their wish lists, crossing off calendar days, and anxiously
anticipating that joyful morning when they get to enjoy the gift-wrapped
rewards for a year of good behavior.
Eleven-year-old Domonick "D.J." Flores has also been busy this month:
Coordinating participation. Marketing events. Accounting for proceeds.
On Dec. 17, he and his classmates donated $156.36 to the local chapter
of STANDUP FOR KIDS, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping
homeless youth. Ben Buehler-Garcia, executive director of the chapter,
accepted the donation in the school cafeteria.
"This really means a lot," Buehler-Garcia said. "Our annual budget isn't
all that big, so this is really substantial for us."
DJ donates $156.36 to STANDUP FOR KIDS
It all started during a class meeting in November. Discussion among the
students veered toward ways to raise funds for a 5th-grade holiday
party. D.J. spoke up and asked his teacher, Pamela Bowen, if they could
instead raise money for a children's charity. Bowen, surprised and
inspired by his suggestion, told the class she'd find out whether it was
possible.
"When I brought it up the next day," Bowen said, "the class was all
gung-ho about the idea."
So, she asked D.J. to write a letter to the school principal, Mary Ann
Jackson, explaining what he wanted to do. When he finished the letter,
Bowen arranged a meeting with D.J., his mom, and Jackson to discuss how
a school charity fundraiser would work.
D.J. read the letter to Jackson and told her he wanted the whole school
to participate in the fundraiser. Jackson said that was definitely
possible, but it would have to be coordinated by the entire student
council.
"I didn't want it to take that long," D.J. said.
Forsaking the bureaucratic process, D.J. asked the principal if they
could make it just a fifth-grade effort. Jackson gave him the green
light, so D.J. went back to his class to begin devising their plan of
action.
They quickly decided that bake sales would be their fundraising vehicle,
and D.J. successfully pitched the idea to the other two fifth-grade
classes at the school. They were on board.
After some Web research, Bowen compiled a long list of children's
charities. She and D.J. talked through the list and narrowed it down to
their top four choices. One organization - STANDUP FOR KIDS -
immediately got D.J.'s attention.
When he was 10, D.J. and his family were homeless for more than two
months. He said that's a big reason why StandUp For Kids became his
immediate favorite.
"It meant a lot to me," D.J. said. "I don't think (kids on the street)
should have to be searching for food. They could get sick or even die."
When he told his mom that he wanted to choose STANDUP FOR KIDS, he said
she got emotional and had to walk away for a minute to compose herself.
"When she came back, she said, 'I'm so proud of you,'" D.J. said,
smiling.
Still, though, Bowen and D.J. decided they would take the top four
choices and put it to a vote among all the fifth grade students. To D.J.'s
delight, STANDUP FOR KIDS was the top vote-getter.
With the big decisions settled, he immediately began planning the
after-school bake sales.
When the first event Dec. 5 only netted about $50, D.J. and his
classmates resolved to ramp up their efforts before the final bake sale
Dec. 12. So, they all agreed to bake a lot more goodies than before and
earnestly try to drum up more customers.
"At the second one, we filled two tables with stuff," D.J. said. "And
the whole time we were screaming out, 'Help homeless kids! Come to the
bake sale!'"
Bowen said that the majority of the customers were other students who
got in line right after school ended, along with a handful of parents
who were picking up their kids. The fifth-graders sold more than $100
worth of baked goods at the second sale.
Both Bowen and D.J. himself were quick to point out how much the other
students helped. The teacher mentioned that this year's fifth-grade
class is "special," consistently surprising her with their positive
attitudes and team mentality.
Buehler-Garcia said he was in awe of the students, too.
"It's really amazing to see what kids this young can accomplish
together," he said. "They started with one completely unselfish idea to
help less fortunate kids, and they took all the necessary steps to see
it through to the end.
"We're honored by the donation, and we'll put it to good use helping the
kids on the streets of Tucson."
The Tucson STANDUP FOR KIDS program has been blessed with numerous in-kind donations that have almost completed our materials needs for the coming year! Special thanks to:
- Mrs. Oboyski's 8th Grade Class at Tortolita Middle School
- Olsson and Associates
- St. Rita's Junior High Youth Group
- Intuit Tucson
Some items are still needed during these cold winter months so please contact us if you would like to donate. We also need volunteers to help us get all these items out on the streets to Tucson's homeless teens and street kids!
Theresa DeLong delivers the results of Intuit's two-month SUFK drive to our storage shed. Intuit/Tucson collected over 570 lbs of food, toiletries, sleeping bags and sweatshirts. They created 170 emergency food and hygiene packets as well as purchasing 45 bus passes and 20 calling cards for the homeless youth of Tucson.
STANDUP FOR KIDS-Tucson extends a special thanks to Sharon Kerr and the members of the Ventana WGA-18 Hole Golf League. Individual members donated a combined $1,125 during their annual Christmas charity fundraiser!
Tucson "Don't Run Away" Program Receives Cox Charities Grant
The Tucson program of STANDUP FOR KIDS has been awarded a $2,000 seed grant to develop a local Don't Run Away program from Cox Communications Charities. STANDUP FOR KIDS was one of several Tucson non-profits chosen from among numerous grant applicants. Cox Charities is funded via various fundraising initiatives and employee contributions. Grant recipients are selected by an employee committee. A heartfelt thanks to Cox Communications of Tucson for helping us get a Don't Run Away program started in local schools!
Don't Run Away Program Director Diana Korn and Executive Director Ben Buehler-Garcia accept the grant award from Cox Communications Public Relations Director Monica Contreras (center)
