Of Flamingos And Arks
Pictured in their ark hats from left to right: Kevin Ritter, Claire Corcoran, Raven Odorizzi, parent Nancy Odorizzi, Ellen Corcoran, Aaron Roos, Todd Case, Henry Hvizdos, and advisor Matt Greif. No flamingos were present.
Noah had nothing on the youth of Lakewood Presbyterian Church. It did take them the better part of a year, but they came up with a whole ark of animals to be delivered to families in need via the Heifer Project. Each animal will raise the family’s standard of living and offspring will be given to other families, benefiting the entire community.
It all started with a trip to a Heifer Project Global Gateway program in Howell, Michigan in October 2008. The Rev. Sharon Budin and one set of parents, Nancy and Steven Odorizzi, accompanied ten teens. They spent time living and eating as if they were the poorest of the poor in rural America, an American slum, or a southeastern Asian jungle. They learned about the Heifer Project’s mission and how the benefits of donations are multiplied many times by the pay-it-forward nature of the animal gifts that are given.
They started to brainstorm how they might raise money for a donation to the Heifer Project and what would be a reasonable goal. Possible gifts start inexpensively at $20 for a flock of chicks or geese. Surely they could manage $120 for a pig or a goat. What about $500 for a heifer? They decided to go for broke with an ambitious, possibly unreasonable, goal - $5,000 for a gift ark containing 15 pairs of animals such as water buffalos, heifers, llamas, goats, ducks, etc., to change lives around the globe.
The Heifer Project, headquartered in Little Rock, AK, started more than 60 years ago with the simple ideal of ending poverty and hunger by providing needy people with livestock and education on how to raise and cultivate them. The livestock - cows, chickens, goats, etc. - are a living loan since the offspring, and the knowledge to raise them, are passed on to another family. You can learn more at www.heifer.org.
So, how can a group of 10 youths from 12 to 16 years old possibly raise $5,000? Their fund-raising projects included making and selling sub sandwiches, wrapping Christmas gifts, making Christmas ornaments to be given for donations, making and auctioning Pysanky Easter eggs, baby-sitting, and an annual benefit concert. The most innovative and striking fund-raiser was a “fun” game for the whole church – the Great Flamingo Tag Game lasted all summer. Members of the congregation could opt not to participate at all, otherwise they were fair game. As a participant, you could buy “Flamingo Insurance” so that you were assured of a clear lawn every morning. If you didn’t buy the insurance, you could be “tagged” by a friend (who paid for the privilege) and wake up with 30 pink plastic flamingos in your yard. Some folks tagged themselves (paying for placement and removal) so that their children or grandchildren could enjoy seeing the flamingos in their yards. Word spread and even non-members joined in the fun and ordered delivery to their own yards.
The whole project started in November 2008 and they accomplished their goal in August 2009. The check was mailed in December 2009 and the teens were recognized by the congregation in a ceremony on December 13. As anthropologist Margaret Mead said: “Never underestimate the power of a small group of thoughtful, committed people to change the world, indeed it's the only thing that ever has.”