Brandon makes a difference!!

This year Brandon participated in a program titled "Community 101". TAG (talented and gifted) students in 4th and 5th grade throughout Canby met once a week for the program.
For this program PG&E donates $5000. The students are asked to poll fellow students at their elementary schools about causes that concern and/or effect children their age. The results were found to be drugs and alcohol. The students then were asked to contact non-profit organizations throughout the Portland area about the grant money they had available. Several non-profits sent in requests for grant money.

One program that sent a request was Cares Northwest in downtown Portland. You can visit their website at http://www.caresnw.org/. Cares Northwest is one of the largest child abuse assessment centers in the nation. Brandon and several other students toured the facility and learned about their program. Cares Northwest had submit an application for grant money that would be used to create care boxes for children in abusive situations. The boxes include everything from new clothing for the child to toiletries.

Unfortunately when the time came to disperse the grant money, Cares Northwest did not receive the grant they requested. Brandon came home disappointed and said he wished there was a way he could help. He came up with the idea to do a fundraiser through his elementary school. The following day he spoke with Mr. Marquez, the school principal. Brandon made an announcement, posted signs throughout the hallways, and created fliers to be sent home to school families. By the end of the week he had collected 50 pounds of donated items for the care boxes at Cares Northwest.

Brandon with items he collected for Cares Northwest. Envelope included monetary donations!

Brandon with Liz Burns of Cares Northwest in their conference room!