I talked to Hollywood star, Orlando Bloom. We both attended a charity event called WE DAY, an inspiring, celebrity packed show for middle and high school kids celebrating a year’s worth of charitable work. Orlando spoke on stage. I listened from the seats, with my press pass—blogger badge. Orlando inspired the kids with a story about a near-tragic accident teaching him how life, cannot to be taken for granted. What you have today may not be what you have tomorrow. At the break, we passed each other in the hallway, like in high school. He was the popular kid, me, a ‘nobody’. “Nice speech,” says anonymous me. He turns my way, placing me from nowhere, “Thanks.” My older son said it counts as a conversation. Orlando sure is cute without his white-haired Elfin look from the movie Lord of the Rings.
“Challenges are your gifts.” Bloom
What WE did have in common was a day to show our support for kids doing good in the world at WE DAY, an extension of the parent organization Free The Children. The founder, Craig Kielsburg, began his fight for children when he was just twelve years old. He read about a Pakistani boy, sold into slavery at age four and murdered at age 12 for speaking out against child labor. Craig, outraged, became a voice for the voiceless children; he made politicians take notice. He made a difference. You may have seen the 60 Minute clip on Craig’s story.
Press Pass
Fast-forward almost two decades, an adult Craig created the support to make it easier for other kids to take up a cause, WE ACT. He provides the means for a school, youth group or family to make a plan and become a leader for change in their own community. Kids can help fund new schools in Ecuador or bring clean water to Nicaragua, for example. After a year of hard work, the kids earn a ticket to the WE DAY show with celebrities like Orlando Bloom, Rico Rodriguez from Modern Family, Laila Ali the daughter of Muhammad Ali, Big Sean a hip-hop artist and Selena Gomez.
I was invited to attend WE DAY, via my shoezle email. I didn’t really get what it was about at first. I skimmed over the email invitation picking up bits about kids earning a ticket to a show with celebrities through volunteering. It’s the first time in California and explained why I hadn’t heard of it. I thought, “I’ll do anything to help kids and moms. I’ll go.” I was blown away. WE DAY was much, much bigger than I imagined.
“Karma is real. Dreams are real.” Big Sean
Twenty thousand California kids attended WE DAY at the Oakland Coliseum on March 26th. All twenty thousand worked on a project to help kids around the world and some here in the US. That’s a lot of hours and fundraising. The group was so enthusiastic and appreciative of the event and anyone who stepped on to the stage. Big Sean, a famous hip-hop artist spoke and performed. His message was BIG. He created a foundation for the kids of Detroit, his hometown, distributing Christmas gifts, school uniforms and food. He said it’s the best money he’s ever spent. His departing message for aspiring teens: Hey, if you can dream it, you can live it.
“Be Fierce. Be Strong. Don’t let anyone stand in your way.” Laila Ali
I was struck by the outreach to girls with the Ban Bossy movement: Girls can be leaders without the stigma of “bossy.” Who better to bring the message live than Laila Ali, a female boxer following in her father’s footsteps. Ban Bossy is the updated version of Free to Be You And Me I grew up with in the 70s.
I spoke to a couple of kids about their projects. A high school girl from San Diego started a tutoring program through her local library called Growing Tree. A child of immigrant parents, she relied on tutors to help her in school as early as second grade. She felt extremely guilty about the expense. As a teen, she and her schoolmates became the complimentary, guilt-free tutor for other kids so they wouldn’t ever feel like she did.
“Moms are heros.” Aaron
I met a young computer science major, Aaron from Uganda. He and a buddy created an app for midwives to listen to fetal heartbeats. The old device was like listening through a special cup and only a trained ear could detect it after many years of experience. Ultrasound equipment can’t be packed into a midwife’s bag, traveling from village to village and it’s expensive. He and his buddy entered a contest through Microsoft, to get funding. I asked Aaron, “Is your mom proud? I know I’d be really proud of my son.” In his humble way, he immediately turned it around. “You are a mom! You are the real hero.”
WE DAY was packed with kind-hearted people, each with an inspirational message, promoting can-do attitudes—on and off the stage. I am a big believer in giving back to society and I love that Craig’s belief is making it possible for so many others to give back too. I love how big companies like Microsoft and Unilever are standing behind Craig’s idea, making it possible to spread even more of the volunteer fever. I love how WE DAY combined philanthropy with self-belief; anything is possible. One person can make a difference as in Craig’s case and so many attending the event. Maybe that’s why his group reached out to the big media people AND the local bloggers. I’m glad he did. You never know where the next hero will be born.
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