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 Directors of the Woodland Hills, Calif.-based peopletree non-profit, which has scheduled an Aug. 22 event to raise funds for Eureka Kids, are, from left, Jesse Fortune, Dorian Rooney, Jeremy Anseth, Alyson Teijeira, and Brett Douglas. Photo submitted |
EUREKA SPRINGS -- When Barbara Dunnam got word recently that a group of young Californians were planning an event to raise funds for her Eureka Kids program, she said she wasn't all that excited by the news.
"You just don't hear about young people willing to spend their effort and time to help others," Dunnam said, "but I found out what they've already done for others, and I am just amazed."
What they're planning to do for Eureka Kids is raise $5,000 at an event they will host on Aug. 22.
The group of five young people who live in the Woodland Hills, Calif. area form the core of a new non-profit organization calling themselves "peopletree." One of the five, Jeremy Anseth, is the son of Eureka Springs residents J.D. and Cathy Harris.
His girlfriend, Alyson Teijeira, explained just how peopletree came to be:
"A few years ago Jeremy and I built our house here in Woodland Hills. When we finished up we wanted to have a housewarming party. But we wanted to do it a little different than your average housewarming party. So we decided to do a charitable fundraiser in addition to the party.
"The house has many 'green' aspects to it, so we thought it would be fun to do a green party where everyone comes dressed in green. After soliciting friends and family we decided on Landmines Blow! We raised $800 for this premiere non-governmental organization dedicated to transforming landmine-affected communities through empowering women, raising social consciousness and engaging civil society. Their mission is to serve and inspire hope for landmine-affected individuals and their communities by raising global awareness and providing access to clean, safe water.
"It was such a huge success that we were encouraged to do another party last year. Last year we did a silver party for Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and we raised $2,500 of which, after incidentals, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International received $2,000. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is dedicated to the conservation and protection of gorillas and their habitats in Africa."
Teijeira said that both organizations were chosen after lots of research and eventually were chosen because someone close to them had a strong emotional tie to the cause.
"After last year's event we decided that we really enjoyed doing this sort of thing and wanted to do this every year. So we started the 501c3 process to become a legal non-profit.
"This year we chose Eureka Kids because Jeremy's parents really pushed for it and, again the cause just seemed to be right. It felt good. With the country the way it is and the economy the way it is, we really wanted to do something for a group of people within our country."
She said that after reading stories about the programs of Eureka Kids, "We felt like it was a must! It just fit to what we were aiming for this year. Since the kids don't really have a specific color to go with the event, we decided to make the color of the event 'a box of crayons.' That is, you can come dressed in whatever color you want but you need to be in one solid color from head to toe."
The Aug. 22 event will feature a band, food, and drinks for the 100 to 150 people attending. Teijeira says there is an initial buy in, and then the group tries to raise additional money by holding a silent auction. "Each year we get better at organizing and we set bigger goals."
Meanwhile, the youngsters at Eureka Kids are painting three bed sheets with quilt-like patterns which will be sent to Woodland Hills, where they'll be cut into table decorations and wall hangings. And, if anyone would like to contribute items to be auctioned off at the event, there's still time. For more information about peopletree or the event for Eureka Kids, contact teijeira by e-mail at alysonteijeira@gmail.com.
Dunnam said that funds raised by peopletree will be used exclusively in Eureka Kids' food programs -- for lunches and snacks at the program's Harmon Park building or for groceries to send home with the youngsters on Fridays for their families to share.
Eureka Kids is currently serving about 20 children a day, and has, since 2005, served more than 900 with after school programs, food programs, community outreach and family services, Dunnam said.
And if the youth of Eureka Kids didn't understand the meaning of altruism before, they surely do now.