Brothers Learn a New Language to Help Kids Learn Math

chicagotribuneSome things never change. Kids need to learn math, and one tool to help them has always been repetitive flash cards.

Well, inspiring kids Owen and Finn Voorhees have taken flash cards to a new level—to the iPhone, in fact.
The brothers had the idea that the iPhone would be a great delivery system for a flash card program, or app, that would help students memorize math facts. There are over 35,000 apps for the phone, and there is a large community of programmers writing programs for iPhone users to add to their devices. However, up to 9 months ago, Owen and Finn were not part of that community. Together, they learned the programming language, and came up with graphical icons and for the app. The Chicago tribune article is here.

Like so many inspirational children, Owen and Finn saw a need and filled it. Sure there are flash cards out there already, but what kid wouldn’t rather pick up an iPhone instead of a pile of cards? Kids helping kids, once again!

Congratulations, Owen and Finn.

Do you know an inspiring young person? We’d love to hear about him or her. It’s easy to toot a horn for your inspiring kid. Post a blog on this site, submit a story for inclusion in my book “Kids Who Inspire,” or email me at gordon@kidswhoinspire.com.

What's Ben Weymiller Doing Now?

Part of the joy of doing Kids Who Inspire is following up to see what the amazing kids we blog about are up to now. We’ll be checking back every so often to see how projects have grown, how others are being affected by the actions these inspired kids are taking, and to see what other projects are underway.

Our first look back brings us to one of our previously featured kids, Ben Weymiller. Ben is back with a new project that we’re happy to report here.

This inspirational kid is once again helping out the hospital that has taken such great care of his little cousin by sponsoring a tree for the Mary Bridge Children's Foundation Festival of Trees.

Ben’s set a goal of $2000, and is already at more than 25% of the way there! You can visit his page at: http://www.firstgiving.com/benweymiller and if you’re inclined to donate, all the better.

Kudos to you, Ben, for your continued attention and service to your cousin and to the people and organizations that are a part of her life.

Do you know an inspiring young person? We’d love to hear about him or her. It’s easy to toot a horn for your inspiring kid. Post a blog on this site, submit a story for inclusion in my book “Kids Who Inspire,” or email me at gordon@kidswhoinspire.com.

Young Rock Bands Organize for Charity

Peter Fogg is a couple merit badges away from being an Eagle Scout, the highest Boy Scout rank. And to further his progress, he decided to organize a benefit concert using local bands for the lineup. Peter’s own band, The Tides, will also perform at the show.

In all, there will be 5 bands performing. Shawn Dowd, Democrat and Chronicle

The concert will benefit Food Link and Water for Sudan . Peter hopes to collect $1000, and at least 400 packaged food items at the concert.

Peter’s story is another great example of how kids are making a difference in their communities and around the world. It took a lot of effort from a lot of young people to organize the event, and learning leadership skills is part of what it means to become an Eagle Scout.

Kudos to Peter Fogg and his band, The Tides, for their efforts and for making a difference.

Do you know an inspiring young person? We’d love to hear about him or her. It’s easy to toot a horn for your inspiring kid. Post a blog on this site, submit a story for inclusion in my book “Kids Who Inspire,” or email me at gordon@kidswhoinspire.com.

Emily's Smile Boxes

If you’ve ever spent time in a hospital, you know there can be long waits, lots of down-time, and very little to do while you’re waiting to get information form doctors and other healthcare professionals.

Emily, a 5th grader, has spent a lot of time at the hospital because her little brother suffered a stroke before he was born. She and her family would often have little to keep them occupied while they were at the hospital, and

Emily noticed other kids in the same situation. So Emily decided she would do something to help make the experience of being at the hospital a little better.

She created Smile Boxes, and her story is a great example of kids making a difference. From her site:
“We strive to give enough boxes to local children's hospitals so that every patient, and their sibling will receive a box. My boxes contain neat smiley face objects, games, toys, colors, and inspirational messages. I put a lot into these boxes, and each one costs about $15 to make.”

You can help by donating to her cause here: http://www.emilyssmileboxes.com/

Like all of the inspiring kids we’ve blogged about, Emily saw a problem, and she took action to do something about it. Congratulations to Emily on being an inspirational kid who clearly cares about others.

Do you know an inspiring young person? We’d love to hear about him or her. It’s easy to toot a horn for your inspiring kid. Post a blog on this site, submit a story for inclusion in my book “Kids Who Inspire,” or email me at gordon@kidswhoinspire.com.

Father and Sons Bike Cross Country for Charity

Usually, when a father asks his sons if they want to go for a little bike ride, he doesn’t mean across the country, but that’s exactly what James, John and father David Mackovjak are doing. Starting June 28th David and his amazing kids will leave Puget Sound and arrive at Virginia Beach August 9th.

It sounds like the trip of a lifetime, and would deserve to be mentioned here on its own merits, but the Mackovjaks are using the experience to help others, and that makes it all the better. The trip is a fund-raiser that will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, and the Wounded Warrior Project. This is one inspirational family.

You can get the whole story here: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/17/central-kitsap-father-sons-prepare-to-pedal-from/

We wish John, James and David the best of luck on their trek.

Please visit their site at: www.riding4hope.org and help any way you can.

Do you know an inspiring young person? We’d love to hear about him or her. It’s easy to toot a horn for your inspiring kid. Post a blog on my site, submit a story for inclusion in my book “Kids Who Inspire,” or email me at gordon@kidswhoinspire.com.

Like many inventions, SmartButtons were created to solve a problem.

Joel Williams Jr.Joel Williams, Jr. has a younger sister, and when she was 3 he noticed that she had difficulty identifying the correct shoe for each foot. He thought it would be a great idea to invent a device a kid could use by herself that told her if the shoe she had was a right she or a left shoe.

So at age 11, Joel invented SmartButton to do exactly that. Joel is now 14 and has seen his invention become not just a reality, but a lucrative one at that. The device attaches to each shoe, and all a kid has to do is press a button to hear “This is my right shoe” in English or Spanish.

You can visit his site here: http://smartbuttonshoes.com/index.php

According to the Temple Daily Telegram, the invention won Joel Black Enterprise magazine’s Teenpreneur award.

Even as the SmartButton is selling well, Joel has been so inspired by the experience that he wants to inspire other kids to think creatively to solve problems. To that end, he has created a motivational DVD about the experience and sells that at his site also.

Congratulations to Joel on his success!

Do you know an inspiring young person? We’d love to hear about him or her. It’s easy to toot a horn for your inspiring kid. Post a blog on this site, submit a story for inclusion in my book “Kids Who Inspire,” or email me at gordon@kidswhoinspire.com.

Children to Children Helps Foster Kids

Mackenzie Snyder estimates that she has touched about 60,000 lives. How? By providing foster kids with a backpack\duffel bag and a stuffed animal.



If you’ve ever thought that one person can’t make a difference, I think you’d agree that the kids highlighted here at www.KidsWhoInspire.com will make you rethink that stance. While none has acted alone, each has taken action the first action to enlist the help of others in order to help others.

Mackenzie’s story is a great example.

As her website states, she and her brothers won an essay contest in which the grand prize was a trip to Paris to attend a summit. While there, Mackenzie met two foster kids. When she learned that most foster kids have to carry their belongings from one home to another in garbage bags, she knew she had to do something, and Children to Children was born.

It wasn’t long until Mackenzie got the backing of Freddie Mac Foundation. Home Depot and Southern Management Company built Mackenzie and office complete with heat and air where she administers her venture.
Please visit her site www.ChildrentoChildren.org to learn more, and to help.

Do you know an inspiring young person? We’d love to hear about him or her. It’s easy to toot a horn for your inspiring kid. Post a blog on my site www.KidsWhoInspire.com, submit a story for inclusion in my book “Kids Who Inspire,” or email me at gordon@kidswhoinspire.com.