I joined the United Way Junior Service Club in 2009. It is extremely important to give back to the community and this organization allows kids to do so. Our founder, Neva Geisler, is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. She has the biggest heart and the greatest personality. Neva calls us “Social Entrepreneurs” because of our dedicated hearts toward the community and world wide problems.


Each year, we focus on a specific topic that needs to be brought to the public’s attention. In 2010, our topic was hunger. We created an event called “Hunger Bites.” Space was donated to us by the city of Boise and when people walked trough the door they were handed a card. Red, blue, or green colored cards were handed out at random. If the card was red, the person received a steak dinner. A blue card and you received macaroni and cheese. And green, nothing. The cards were supposed to represent classes. By the end of our speech, filled with shocking statistics and interesting information, we had the audience in tears. The thought of being in poverty, or going hungry, really made everyone think.

In 2011, we met with CASA, a program for foster children who lost everything. Our plan was to write children’s book for the kid that we were paired with, and make them the main character. I was paired with a little boy named Trevor. Trevor liked animals, superheroes, and he wanted to be an astronaut when he got older. Trevor seemed like a normal little boy. When all the children left, we heard their stories. Trevor was six years old and the oldest of four children. They didn’t have a father and their mother left for long periods of time, leaving Trevor to watch his three younger siblings, basically raising them. Trevor and his siblings are now in a foster home with a loving family. I created a book titled “Never Say Never Trevor” that involved Trevor saving a rocket ship filled with animals. Seeing his face when I handed him that book was one of the most heart warming experiences of my life. I will always remember Trevor.

The Junior Service Club’s latest project was creating a “Flash Mural.” The JUMP (Jack’s Urban Meeting Place) organization gave us the space on 9th and State. Everyone in Junior Service Club came together and painted a scene of the sky foothills and a hiker. To the left we wrote “Make Your Mark.” And in the clouds we wrote give, advocate, and volunteer. We created an event where people came and put their hand prints on the foothills, you know, “making their mark.” In the end, it was a total success. The mural looked great and everyone was very pleased.

Philanthropy is my favorite hobby. I hope to be just like Neva Geisler when I get older and be a “super star of service”(as she sometimes calls us). Volunteering means a lot to me and I really do see myself being extremely active in the community when I get older.