RandomRockstar

Here at RandomKid, we believe each and every child has a cool-ness factor within their hearts.  It's that thing that makes them smile at another person or lend a helping hand to someone... it's that innate goodness.  That is worth celebrating! If you're randomly selected as a Random RockStar, you'll get the full RockStar treatment on a day you'll never forget!   If you'd like a shot at being our next Random RockStar, please register with us by clicking on the RandomRegistration form .

RandomRockstar Lanna

A Nine-Year-Old Who Rocked a Family's World with a Day's Worth of Work!

It all started with a school assembly.  Ten-year-old Random RockStar Talia was asked to speak to a K-12 assembly at VanMeter school in Iowa about "The Power of ANYone".  She wanted to inspire kids to realize that they don't have to be grown-ups to make a positive difference in the world.  She encouraged the students to get in touch with ways they could help others, and post their ideas on the RandomKid website. 

Out in the audience, Lanna already had ideas about what she could do to make the world a better place.   The next chance she had, she registered with RandomKid.  Wrote Lanna, "I believe all living things should have homes."  She went on to write about a variety of ways she could help.  RandomBenefactors read about Lanna's goals and wanted to help her achieve them.  Lanna met with RandomKid officials to develop a plan of action.  Ultimately Lanna decided she would help make a Habitat Humanity House into a home, by asking for donations from area businesses.

Lanna and the RandomKid team worked with the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity to identify a family who could use help furnishing their home.  She found out there was a mom moving into a new house within the next couple of weeks who had four children moving with her, but only one bed, and very little else.  Lanna got a list of what they like and what they need.  And then Lanna took a day off from school to meet with store managers and ask them for help.

She met with local gardening expert, Jerry Kluver at Earl May Nursery and Garden Center, who provided a number of beautiful flowers for landscaping.  At the garden center, Lanna was surprised by a Beijo Bag official who arranged for Majestic Limousine to take Lanna to her other appointments that day.  You see, in addition to helping this family, Lanna had been asked to speak about her project at a Beijo Bag fundraiser for RandomKid.

As the day sped by, Lanna was making and taking calls from the Limo in between appointments.  One Target store manager was so impressed with Lanna, that she contacted other Target store managers.  Next thing you know, Lanna was getting calls from Targets all over the area, offering to help.

While Lanna sat in a cafeteria waiting for a local newspaper reporter to come and interview her, she made another call.  Through her networking, she learned that an executive from Jerry's Homes heard about her project and wanted to help.  Lanna told the executive more about what the family needed and was thrilled to learn that Jerry's Homes wanted to offer new furishings for the entire home!

People were networking with and for Lanna.  And by the end of the day, she had everything this family needed, except one--a bunkbed for the two youngest boys.  So Lanna got up early the next morning to appear on "Today in Iowa" on the local NBC affiliate.  She asked the community for help with the bunkbeds and got immediate results.

That evening, Lanna spoke at the Beijo Bag event.  She presented gifts and certificates to a Habitat for Humanity official from Target, Earl May, Lowes, Walgreens, JC Penny and Jerry's Homes.  Habitat for Humanity honored Lanna with a special pin and invited her to present these gifts to the family at the dedication of their home in the coming week.

Not even a week later, Lanna found herself at the Habitat for Humanity dedication where she got to meet the family she was helping for the first time.  Until Lanna's presentation, this family had no idea who she was, or what she did for them.  Lanna ROCKED their world--they were blown away by what this Random RockStar was able to accomplish and the generosity that she inspired in so many area business leaders.

PostScript:  Beijo Bags designer and founder Susan Handley was so impressed with Lanna, that she said she'd like to work with Lanna and RandomKid again in the future.  Ms. Handley generously donated several autographed bags to RandomKid that is offering up for auction to help other kids like Lanna make the world a better place.

What does it mean to be a RandomRockstar? It means that you are CENTER STAGE that day! We have a network of RandomParents, RandomGoGetters, and RandomDoGooders who are ready for our RandomCall. They'll help us give you a day you won't soon forget!

What's the catch? You just need to be a registered RandomKid so we have a way of contacting your parents, getting their permission, and then planning the special day for you!

If it's not a contest, then how am I selected? Randomly! The point is that YOU are valued as you are today!

Why do this? In celebrating children for their unique RandomNess, there's no better way than to pick a RandomKid and make a big deal out of him or her. That way, any RandomKid can think, "I could be next," "That could be me," "I am worth celebrating!"

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