Kids can make a difference!
Del.icio.usDespite a very stormy Halloween night, Kaela Teho, 8, was able to reach her goal of raising $1,000 for the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation (HCCF). In fact, this cancer surviver (she is currently recovering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL) was able to far exceed anyone’s expectations - through the help of her Iolani second-grade classmates, teachers, parents and family friends, Kaela collected more than $9,000, with more donations coming in every day!
“We were fortunate to have such motivated and enthusiastic trick-or-treaters,” says Kendis Teho, Kaela’s mother and HCCF board member. “These kids raised a whole lot of money to help Hawaii’s families with children with cancer.”
Kendis says parents asked their friends, coworkers and neighbors to donate to HCCF instead of passing out goodie bags for Halloween. The Iolani athletic department sold candy, and a teacher hosted a jewelry sale, with all proceeds given directly to the cause. Led by teachers Marilyn Naka and Cynthia Chung, Kaela’s class had a fundraising garage sale, where they sold new or gently used toys to other second-graders at school.
To show their appreciation, the Teho family threw a party for the 51 volunteers Nov. 4 at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. Friends both old and new enjoyed a buffet of healthy treats and swapped stories.
“I’ve heard from many parents that it was great to be a part of something like this and to have their kids be more aware of the needs of others, to give back, to be part of something big,” Kendis says. “We already have families say they want to sign up for next Halloween. If there are schools or families who want to join up for next year or offer ideas, I’d love to hear from them.”
As for Kaela, who first started fundraising last year? “She absolutely loves the feeling of having an impact, particularly since this one involved mobilizing other kids,” Kendis says. “Now she’s ready for the next thing ... I’m sure she’ll cook up another idea soon!”
For further information on this nonprofit organization, visit hccf.org. To get involved, call 528-5161 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) - Sarah Pacheco
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