Get In On the Giving

Local Kids Are Helping Others in Need;
Your Family Can Too!

By Susan Flynn

Andrew and Charlie Castle of Hats for Hunger

Funny thing about this parenthood business: We think we’re the wise ones, doling out advice and opinions about all that’s important in life. Then our children come along and teach us what really matters.

In our annual nod to local charities, social service agencies and family help organizations that need your donations of time, living basics, toys or just plain money this holiday season – indeed, all year round – we spotlight five remarkable children who have inspired others to give back.

These kids have formed boards and nonprofits, organized donation drives, delivered speeches and spoken to large audiences – all to spread the word about causes they believe in.

“Kids these days,” is a common lament that suggests that somehow children used to be better. Read on to learn just why kids these days are pretty amazing.

Yo-yoing with a Purpose

Daniel Dietz started yo-yoing in sixth grade, enamored with the latest fad to hit his school. He signed up for free classes at a local toy store and got hooked on performing tricks for family and friends. Today, the 16-year-old high school junior is ranked the No. 1 yo-yoer in Massachusetts and No. 2 in the Northeast.

But while exceptional yo-yo skills make him unique, what makes Daniel special is how he uses his talents to help other kids. Four years ago – at age 12 – he learned about Smile Train, when the organization sent a random flyer to his home. He couldn’t stop reading about the international effort perform free surgeries that would help impoverished children worldwide with cleft lips and palates.

“The picture on the brochure really moved me,” says Daniel. “$250 and a 45-minute surgery is all it takes to save someone’s life.”

Daniel picked up the phone and called the New York City headquarters. Soon after, he held his first fundraiser by performing tricks at a restaurant near his Northampton home. Over the last four years, he has raised a whopping $30,000 for Smile Train, mostly in coins and dollars tossed into his trusty tip jar.

“I’m still shocked about that number, but over time it does add up,” says Daniel. “A lot of these kids they help are left on the street and abandoned and have a hard time eating and speaking because of their lips. Sometimes they are thrown out of school. And it’s a really easy surgery to fix.”

To donate to Smile Train, visit www.smiletrain.org. To learn more about Daniel and his efforts, check out http://danyoyo4u.com.

Growing Under the Tree

His mother’s reply: “It’s never too early to make a difference.”

So, in 2006 at the age of 12, Jonathan established the Under the Tree Foundation, a nonprofit that his family now runs from their Duxbury home. The first year, they collected gifts for 25 teens at the Dorchester Boys & Girls Club, working off a wish list with requests, ranging from CDs to baseball hats to basketballs and books. The next year, they bought 50 gifts and organized a holiday outing to the Frog Pond rink on Boston Common – paying for the transportation, the rentals and the hot chocolate.

This year’s wish list can be found at www.underthetreefoundation.org, and includes requests for Red Sox hats, books from the Twilight series, and an American Eagle sweatshirt, among others. Gift cards and cash donations are also always welcome. The Boys & Girls Club staff gets calls right up until Christmas Eve from parents looking for something to give to their kids, says Nancy Woods, Jonathan’s mother.

As the foundation has grown, Jonathan’s sister, Maura, and his cousin, Jessica Feroli, have become more involved.

“It’s really taught them how kids can make an impact,” Nancy Woods says. “And I can tell you that what they request for Christmas now is minimal.” Adds Jonathan, “What I’ve learned from the (foundation) is that what might seem like the smallest act of kindness to you, can change someone’s life forever.”

Next: Hats Off to Helping Hunger