MIDDLE SCHOOL – SPIRIT OF JIM CHASE

In 2008 this next group of kids started their own nonprofit organization. Their idea manifested after their visit to a medical clinic in rural Mexico. During their visit they discovered kids their own ages that were in desperate need of life-saving heart surgery. Creating a name and designing a logo their mission became to help children who need lifesaving heart surgery by providing funds for transportation to the hospital, food, lodging, and prescriptive medications to enhance their quality of life. Their dream became reality when after selling lemonade and holding neighborhood bake sales to raise money they decided to imprint their logo on kitchen dishtowels and sell them for $5 each. A project that started because of compassionate interest has continued to excite and inspire them to continue making a difference in other children’s lives. In addition to school, sports, and other extracurricular activities they spend 15-30 hours each month to this project. To date they raised $53,000 by selling over 5,000 dishtowels, at least one dishtowel in all 50 states and 31 different countries. Their goal is to financially help at least one child and family from each of the 50 states.