By Dale King and Julia Hebert
BOCA RATON – Can a group of Boca Raton students build a school in Africa?
Members of “Free the Children” from Pine Crest set up an information table during a recent event at the Boca Raton Marriott.
Sure can, says Ryan Engelhardt of West Boca Raton, a Pine Crest Middle School student and president of “Free the Children,” a group intent on raising $8,500 for that purpose by the end of the school year.
That will be enough to construct a “brick and mortar” teaching facility in Sikirar, Kenya, through the educational component of “Free the Children.”
Ryan, an articulate sixth grader, told the Boca Raton Tribune that she and fellow classmates helped to muster some 300 Pine Crest students to organize a chapter of “Free the Children.” “The kids have done so much,” Ryan said. “We’ve raised $6,000 since February.”
The Pine Crest “Free the Children” group is holding what Ryan calls “a huge fundraiser” Friday, April 30 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Boca Raton Marriott ballroom on Military Trail behind Boca Center. Organizers hope to reach the $8,500 mark through this event.
But Ryan doesn’t plan to end there. She’s hoping eventually to raise a total of $25,000 to cover a full “Free the Children” Adopt-A-Village project. If she and her colleagues can raise that amount, her parents, Darin and Debbie Engelhardt, have pledged to match it. The Engelhardts will then travel to Sikirar to watch the dream unfold.
Actually, the entire Engelhardt family is involved with the project. Younger sister Julia, age 9, has raised $1,200 and even 5-year-old sister Jayden has collected a jar full of cash — $100 in all – for the cause.
Ryan said she wanted to get involved in a community effort, and picked Canada-based “Free the Children” after researching 50 charities. “Free The Children” empowers youngsters in North America to take action to improve the lives of fellow children overseas, says the organization’s website.
From left, Julia, Jayden and Ryan Engelhardt with the jar containing Jayden’s $100 contribution.
It notes that “international projects, led by our Adopt-a-Village program, have brought more than 500 schools and water projects to communities around the world.”
“Young people have the biggest role,” noted Ryan. “It’s run by kids. We have over a million activists.”
The Engelhardts are clearly proud of their children. Mother Debbie said she provides transportation, when needed, and the Pine Crest chapter meets weekly at the Engelhardt home.
The community is also proud. Salon Blu is helping out by selling 500 red Kenyan hair extensions for $10 each, with all proceeds benefiting the students’ effort. Also, the Boca Marriott declared the Pine Crest chapter of “Free the Children” as its Charity of the Month.
Carter Helschien, secretary of the Pine Crest group and member of the lacrosse team, said the organization “is great. I never really knew the needs of countries like Kenya. It’s great to help them out and get involved.”
He said he also enjoys “speaking in front of people” to get the group’s message across.
Ryan Engelhardt and Carter Helschien in front of the board used to record donations.
Other board members of “Free the Children” at Pine Crest are: Sara Brown, vice-president; Tara Assari, Grant Gilbert, China Copperstone, Marle Edelman, A.J. Felberbaum, Kimmy Ginsburg, Brandon Halim, Rachel Horowitz, Zach Kahan, Sam Rubinoff, Alana Udwin and Sabrina Udwin.
When Ryan researched Kenya, she discovered a dichotomy between living conditions there and in Boca Raton. “We have a great lifestyle in Boca,” she said. “In Kenya, they don’t have the type of upbringing we have here.”
She and hundreds of others at Pine Crest hope to change that. And they’re banking – literally – on the community to get behind them.
The April 30 event, called a “Piggy Bank Fundraising Party,” will offer dancing, a DJ, songs and “celebrating our success,” said Ryan.
For information about the event, call Ryan at 561-852-6123 or Carter at 561-289-5262, or log onto freethechildrenboca@gmail.com.