El Rodeo School Gets into the Holiday Spirit
Beverly Hills grade school raises $700 for Kenyan orphanage
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 19, 2009 -- Ellen Kwon, a fourth grade teacher at El Rodeo has a goal: to
ongoingly initiate an awareness of the world outside of her classroom, which is why she partnered with nonprofit
organization, Help for Orphans.
“One of the ways I do this is through a weekly assignment called Current Events,” explained Kwon. “Each week,
the children spend time reading about news in their community, state, country and world. Whatever the topic may
be, the goal is to thread an understanding that what happens outside the classroom door affects us, however little
or large.”
When the opportunity rose to team with Sarah Ehrlich, a parent of one of my students, and founder of the
nonprofit, the children took full ownership by planning and executing their own fundraisers. “Some had bake
sales, others held lemonade stands--one group even decided they wanted to run a "doggy-daycare/grooming"
station at a nearby dog park!” Kwon exclaimed.
“The most fulfilling part of the project was to see the children's inspiration in action...their desire to help and
make a difference was not just a thought - but it was put into action. The children raised approximately $700 and
all of that money was donated to the organization, and in turn, was used to purchase mattresses and bunk-beds for
the children at the orphanage so that they no longer had to sleep three to a bed. I value the experience and even as
a teacher - it reminds me that nothing is too little when you want to make a difference."
“Equally valuable is the notion that we are all catalyst of change,” said Ehrlich. “It doesn't matter how old or
young we are, it doesn't matter what walk of life we came from or live now, it doesn't matter if one’s passion is
music and another soccer - each of us has the power and ability within ourselves to make a difference in the
world.”
About Help for Orphans:
Help for Orphans International is a