Face Painting for the Cause

Peyton raised $295.50 doing face paiting at Jack's Ride,
an annual event organized for kids with cancer. She
presented her donation to LLS staff today.

Philanthropy is for kids too!

When 13-year-old Peyton was in the third grade, she and her brother were out in the back yard playing with face paints when she asked her mom if she could do some face painting as a fundraiser. Their friend Jack had leukemia as a baby and thankfully survived. Following this, his family began hosting a neighborhood fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Peyton's mom suggested that she do her fundraising for this event called Jack's Ride. Peyton grabbed her paints, a table and chairs, and a small cup on which she wrote "25¢ donation for LLS". As soon as her booth was set up, there was already a line of kids waiting to get their faces painted. By the end of the event, she had raised $105 for the LLS.

Not long after this event, Peyton's grandfather was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Peyton was glad to know that part of the funds she raised are going to find a cure for her grandfather's cancer.

By the next year, she was even more prepared. She had volunteers to help her, more paint, a bigger table, posters and a much bigger container for donations (a large jar). Her little brother even got involved and ran a temporary tattoo booth next to hers. They raised $170.

Every year, Peyton returns to the event. The funds she raises partly go to Jack's Ride (which supports childhood cancers) and partly to the LLS. She has raised more than $2,000 so far and she's only in the 8th grade.

"I want other kids to do what I did," says Peyton, "I want them to set up face painting booths at neighborhood parties and community events to raise money for charities that they want to support. It is really easy to do and better than raising money to spend on yourself. Plus, it is really fun!"

Visit Peyton's website here: FACEPAINTINGFORTHECAUSE