Mt. Lebanon girl raises money for Pittsburgh-based nonprofit
Sydney Martin, 12, stands behind her family’s van filled with donated presents for Beverly’s Birthdays.
A collection of the donated gifts received during the party at Thomas Dance Studio in Bridgeville on Dec. 3.
Empathy has always been an innate trait for Sydney Martin.
From helping new students getting adjusted to Mt. Lebanon to providing comfort to those who might be upset in class, the Mellon Middle School sixth-grader loves lending an extra hand.
When an email notification came to Sydney’s mother, Kim, she knew it was another opportunity her daughter wouldn’t want to pass up.
Sent from Beverly’s Birthdays, an organization that provides birthday celebrations for homeless and less fortunate children in the Pittsburgh region, were looking for participants for a youth leadership initiative. The Champions of Cheer program allows for kids between the ages of 7 and 15 a chance to plan a fundraising project in their community to benefit the nonprofit company.
After being selected and attending leadership development training, Sydney, 12, devoted her time to planning a party where friends and family donated money, gift cards, games and nonperishable food items – all approximately equaling $800 – during her party at Thomas Dance Studio on Dec. 3.
“All of our kids have their own personalities,” Kim said about her three children. “Sydney has just always been service oriented. She has just always been the caring one.”
After becoming an official nonprofit in 2012, Beverly’s Birthdays partners with agencies across the region to ensure no child is forgotten on his or her special day. According to their website, it’s a problem that exists throughout the country with 1-in-30 children experiencing homelessness in America each year.
According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, more than 16 million children – 22 percent – live in families with incomes below the poverty level.
“Since I like to do charity work, it was pretty easy because I’ve done different things like that before,” Sydney said. “I have all these nice things. I want other people to be able to have that, too.”
One thing that wasn’t easy was making her way into different Mt. Lebanon businesses to ask for gift cards and money raffle prizes to those who donated. Mineo’s Pizza House, Potomac Bakery, CommonWealth Press, Betsy’s Ice Cream – all in Mt. Lebanon – and Tutu – in Bridgeville – all supported the cause by awarding gracious participants. Serafina’s and Philly Pretzel Factory supplied food for the party.
“I had a lot of stage fright at the beginning,” Sydney said when remembering walking into her first business. “Once I got over that hump it was easier as I went on. The businesses were fantastic.”
“It was really easier than I thought it was going to be,” Kim said. “I thought we were going to be trudging around begging for space, food and donations. It seemed overwhelming at first but having that support was huge.”