Press Release - Aug 29, 2007
OFFICE OF LT. GOV. BARBARA O'BRIEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth Martin
319-551-9060 (cell)
LT. GOV. O'BRIEN AND STUDENT TO COMMEMORATE KATRINA ANNIVERSARY
The second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina was marked in Colorado by a meeting between Lieutenant Governor Barbara O'Brien and Kristen Haeger, an eighth grader at Oberon Middle School in Arvada, Colo. The event was part of a nationwide project sponsored by RandomKid, a non-profit that helps kids help others, and asks students to design an "accessory" made out of house-shaped key chains. The key chains were designed by kids in Iowa and are being sold across the nation to raise money for rebuilding charities in the Gulf Coast region.
Students, governors and state representatives across the nation are remembering the August 29, 2005 storm and the tragedy that followed and will be celebrating the work that¿s been done by students in their respective states to help rebuild.
"It is a powerful symbol to have children like Kristen embrace the spirit of service by supporting the Gulf Coast families that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina," Lt. Gov. O'Brien said. "I applaud her and RandomKid for taking on such an important decision."
Hurricane Katrina was an event that struck a chord with Kristen. As a result, she participated in a food and clothing drive at her school. Fellow students helped load the items in a truck and a driver volunteered to take everything to Louisiana himself.
In addition, Kristin tutors English Language Learners twice a week during the school year and is the Colorado representative for "For Each Other" and has a neighborhood business where she rakes leaves, shovels snow, sells lemonade, then gives the proceeds to various charities.
About RandomKid ( www.randomkid.org)
RandomKid is a 501c3 non-profit with the mission to take the goodness of the child and turn it into goodness for the world, by helping kids help others.
Founded by 12-year-old Talia Leman in 2005 after uniting kids across the U.S. to report more than $10 million for Hurricane Katrina/Rita relief, RandomKid now works to educate, mobilize and empower youth to meaningfully impact a broad spectrum of local, national and global needs.