Peyton's 8th Birthday

When my daughter Peyton was 7, she decided that she wanted to be a "Change Bandit" for the Duke Children's Hospital annual donation radio-thon. She enjoyed raising money to help the sick children in the hospital, and she hit up everyone she knew for loose change. In a short period of time, she donated more than $200 in coins. When she turned 8, she decided that she wanted to raise money for the Duke Children's Hospital again, using her birthday party as a fund raiser. In lieu of birthday presents, she asked her guests to bring donations for the hospital. She raised more than $200 at her birthday party, and she donated the money at a horse show/charity auction for the hospital in Raleigh.

Today she inspired me me become more "green" and generous by converting an empty apple juice bottle into a piggy bank to raise money for the hospital. I used a black marker to make some tic-marks on the side of the container so we could measure our progress this year. I made the 100% mark where the bottle begins to taper towards the top, and I told Peyton that we would donate the change when we reached 100%. Peyton promptly urged me to make a "stretch goal" of going past my marks and filling the bottle to the very top! Like many families, we have had a difficult year economically, and we are fighting foreclosure on our home. Just when it would be easy and "natural" for me to batten down the hatches and save every penny for my own family, Peyton has inspired me to do the opposite - to open up and share with others in need. We are all in the same boat in the long run, and I feel humble and grateful to be a parent of a young person like Peyton who reminds me to keep my heart open, even in troubling times.

Submitted by Anonymous

Appreciation