|
Go
Gidget!
Got Philanthropy? Help Gidget's Way
Philanthropy is a big word
for helping or giving. Though big, the word is not that uncommon.
Giving and helping certainly aren't unusual. But I recently came across
two uncommon philanthropists, a 15-year-old girl and her horse. At first
glance the horse is nothing special, a 16-year-old Morgan-Arab mix named
"Frisky." The girl appears fairly ordinary as well, until you
hear her story.
 When
she was ten, Gidget had a simple desire to help homeless children. She
attempted to volunteer at several shelters and was rejected because of her
age. Her mom says, “She’s a fighter and she doesn’t like the word
'no.'" As her eleventh birthday approached, Gidget got another idea.
What if we have my birthday at the shelter with cake, ice cream and
balloons with my presents going to the children? Surely the shelters can’t
refuse that? And they didn’t. A non-profit charity was born and
rightfully named “Gidget's Way.”
Gidget has held birthday parties at homeless shelters every year for the
past five years. Teddy bears are common gifts at the parties. Then Gidget
got the idea of giving teddy bears to local Sheriff's departments, to be
kept in the trunks of squad cars and given to scared children on domestic
violence calls. Thousands of teddy bears have been given away in the last
five years. When the recent fires affected hundreds of children in the
Southern California area Gidget said, “Those kids lost everything.”
She started a campaign which eventually donated over 300 backpacks filled
with school supplies to the young fire victims. I asked, "Why school
supplies?" Gidget replied, “If my house was on fire, my school
backpack would be the last thing I would grab, so I figured they all
needed them.”
Where does she get the money for all these gifts? Gidget asks normal,
every-day people like you and I for donations. Oh, and she asked a few
local companies, like Toyota, Lexus, Staples, Office Depot, and Wal-Mart,
the world's largest retail chain store. Her mom is right, she is a
fighter. I’m afraid to ask Wal-Mart if I can return unwanted holiday
gifts. I asked her why she does it and Gidget said, “I love it. It’s
my favorite thing to do.”
Gidget spends from one to five hours a day on her non-profit organization.
When a party is approaching, more hours are needed for things like
shopping for presents for each of the kids, preparing decorations, and
wrapping gifts. “I don’t like just hanging out like a most kids” she
said, “That is so unproductive.” Her mom says she is different. She is
always thinking of what she can do for others.” “Do you think she will
ever stop doing this?” I asked her Mom. “No way, she is fighter
remember?” I asked Gidget, "Will you ever stop doing Gidget's
Way?" Her quick response was, “No.” “Why not?” I asked. “I
once gave a four-year-old little girl her first teddy bear and her first
taste of birthday cake. You never forget something like that," she
replied. Good enough answer for me.
Six years ago Gidget slipped on a spilled can of soda pop. She had what
appeared to be simple leg sprain. It was healing fairly normally. But the
doctors ordered arthroscopic surgery to examine the ligaments. That simple
procedure went wrong. Gidget has now had a total of five surgeries and was
unable to walk for over two years.
A horse trainer from Ireland
was transporting horses to the U.S. and told her mom, “Get her on a
horse and I guarantee she will walk.” Gidget loved that idea, as did her
physical therapist. Now Frisky enters the stage, that plain ordinary
Morgan-Arab mix I told you about earlier. “It was Frisky that got her
walking,” her mom said emotionally. “If it wasn’t for Frisky she
would not be able to walk today.” Last month she was able to leave her
wheelchair, needing only the aid of a crutch. But she has no problem
riding Frisky, who she climbs on weekly. “She is awesome,” said Gidget.
I get the idea Gidget has few problems doing anything. When she is not
negotiating with Wal-Mart she is a grade “A” student, sings in school
plays, and has even done a few television commercials for Downey and
Maxwell House coffee. She talked Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors into giving
free ice cream to customers who donated a Teddy Bear. Gidget's Way has
raised tens of thousands of dollars, from as far away as New York. She
recently received a letter from First Lady Laura Bush, applauding her
efforts.
Every teddy bear comes with this poem penned by Gidget. “This is a bear
from Gidget’s Way. I will be with you every day. I will be your friend
and we can play. And remember you’re loved every day."
As I got home tonight I thought of the horse who has given this girl back
her ability to walk, and the girl who has given love to so many. I wonder,
will Wal-Mart exchange that unwanted holiday gift still sitting on the
couch for a teddy bear?
If you are interested in becoming a philanthropist, send your gifts to
Gidget's Way, 266 Rodney Ave., Encinitas, CA 92024.
Return to top
Copyright Garry
Stauber © 2004 All rights reserved. The above article is
the property of the Author and may not be duplicated or redistributed in
any way without permission. Visit Garry on-line at Dream Adventures.
|
