9 Year Old Isabella Gives Up Her Birthday Gifts to Help a Congolese Boy Smile Again
One extraordinary nine year old Hauppauge girl, has touched the hearts of our community by giving up her birthday gifts to help another. Isabella’s ninth birthday wish was simple; to give up her presents in exchange for helping a Congolese boy attending the same school. Dunia, 8, is the sole survivor of a vicious attack by a chimpanzee in his native forest, which claimed the life of his brother and another young boy. And so, this extraordinary nine year old girl, decided to ask friends and family to skip the birthday gifts this year, so the money could go to aide Dunia’s present care and his future education upon his return to the Congo.
At first, Isabella’s goal was to raise enough money, to help pay for his post surgery care while here in the States. So Isabella’s mother, Kim reached out to the Crean’s, Dunia’s host family as well as Dr Klempner of the Smile Rescue Fund and began to help her daughter set up a fundraising page via Go Fund Me.
“Once the fundraising page was set up, I sent it to friends and family with a note from Isabella, documenting why it was so important to her to give Dunia a better life. Within a week, the page was all over social media, The Hauppauge Moms and The Smithtown Moms had posted Dunia’s story. Even the teacher faculty at school is planning to pull money together.” – Isabella’s mother, Kim*
In less than ten days, Isabella raised $2730 for Dunia, triple the original goal, by her actual birthday. However, the young philanthropist decided to boost the goal again, hoping to raise $5,000 before Dunia’s first surgery, scheduled for January 11th, 2016. Presently, Isabella’s fundraising efforts will pay for roughly five years of Boarding School for Dunia when he returns home. She hopes to double that number, so Dunia will have a real chance at a safe and happy life filled with possibility.
Born to Give:
When Isabella was about to turn seven, she asked her mom for help, raising money for abandoned animals for her birthday. Friends brought basic supplies, food, beds, collars etc in lieu of gifts at her party, which she gave to an animal shelter in Huntington. Isabella raised $700 for the ASPCA, in addition, from friends and family, with the help of one very proud mother. So when her 9th birthday came around, Isabella chose to do something special for a boy she had seen walking through the school halls.
Dunia’s Road to A New Smile
Dunia was brought here for reconstructive surgery, thanks to Dr. Leon Klempner, his foundation the Smile Rescue Fund for Kids, Volunteer Host, Jennifer Crean and Dr. Alexander Dagum, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stony Brook University Hospital, who is performing the surgeries free of charge. However, the cost of his clothing, temporary housing and post care are made possible through financial donations like Isabella’s fundraising effort. Follow Dunia’s progress via the Smile Rescue Fund Blog.
Let’s all lead by Isabella’s example and help her to reach a $5,000 goal before Dunia’s first surgery on January 11th, Visit the Isabella 9 for Dunia Go Fund Me page today and become a part of this wonderful journey.
*Note: Due to the young age of Isabella, we have left the last name of her family out of the article.