A Budding Philanthropist at the Age of 13
Jacob learned he was allergic to peanuts and tree nuts when he was 3 years old. Just 10 years later, he nearly singlehandedly rallied friends, family members, and community residents for a “Walk ‘n Roll” event that raised more than $4,000 for food allergy research.
Jacob decided to organize the Walk ‘n Roll event as his mitzvah (charity) project, an ambitious undertaking that took six months of pounding the pavement in search of sponsors and spreading the word to get people involved.
“The work was hard, but it was all worth it,” Jacob said recently. “The day was really great – it was a really fun event. It turned out to be a lot bigger than what we expected.”
More than 200 people turned out for the event, which Jacob organized with the help of FAAN staff. Jacob’s Walk ‘n Roll was held at his middle school, where he is in 7th grade.
Participants paid a $5 entry fee and received a raffle ticket for every lap walked. Jacob even addressed the crowd with a brief speech thanking everyone for attending, and the event was covered by the local newspaper.
“Because I have food allergies, I wanted to do something that raises awareness for FAAN,” Jacob said.
Jacob personally solicited donations from business owners like a seasoned pro. He advises others who want to organize similar events to be persistent when trying to obtain sponsorships.
“If you come in there with a relaxed approach, that doesn’t work,” Jacob said. “The only way you’re going to get somebody is to walk in excited, be a people person, and follow up with phone calls – they’re only going to give you something if they remember you.”
Jacob regards community service as a way of making a difference – something teens should strive to do.
“If you think something needs to change, you need to step up and be the one that changes it,” Jacob said.
When he’s not raising money for research or at school, Jacob can be found playing guitar and piano. He plays in a band called Out of Order, which is working on original music and covers newer songs by U2, as well as oldies by Janis Joplin.
If you’re interested in holding a fundraising event, contact FAAN at (800) 929-4040 or send an e-mail to abartlett@foodallergy.org.
