Schools
UPDATE: Young Fircrest Artist's Fundraising Project Soars And Makes Dreams Come True
Last month, Patch's Kim Thompson shared a story about Fircrest's Mollee Cunningham, who creates drawings to raise funds for her autistic brother's classroom. Here's an update on Mollee's amazing progress. You might want to get a tissue.
In this season of joy, hope, and belief, it's the small things that become the miracles.
As is certainly the case for 8-year-old Mollee Cunningham of Fircrest.
Earlier, Patch brought you the story of for her twin brother Josef's autism classroom at Tacoma's Franklin Elementary. The device helps nonverbal students communicate.
Find out what's happening in University Placewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But that was only part of this amazing story.
Mollee is also autistic. Taking a journey through the lives of the Cunningham twins and their parents, Patch saw their struggles, triumphs, perseverance and achievements that made this project all the more special and poignant. ().
Find out what's happening in University Placewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
To recap the specific project, Mollee's parents came up with an idea to help channel Molly's energy and passion around drawing. Mollee would create custom drawings for customers for a $5 donation. This donation would go toward purchasing an iPad for brother's classroom to help him and other students learn communication skills. Mollee loved the idea and was eager to help.
Using Fiverr.com, a popular international website for selling and buying goods and services for a $5 price, Mollee's project took off.
And took off it did.
The response to Mollee's project and her story was like no other. Not only did it touch the hearts of the local community, but it went bigger.
As in, Fiverr.com bigger.
The company read the original article about Mollee and was so touched that it moved Mollee's project to a "featured gig," which means it gets top billing on the site.
“Fiverr.com is a site like no other, the very first global marketplace for buying and selling anything – from quirky gigs to essential office tasks for as little as $5,” said Micha Kaufman, co-founder and CEO of Fiverr.com. “Sellers like Mollee illustrate the diverse Fiverr community, which includes everyone from college students to parents and executives to senior citizens, all offering a slice of their time and talent for the price of a latté."
"We are proud to help sellers like Mollee further important causes, and we hope our dedicated network of global buyers continues to show their support.”
And show their support they did.
Mollee is getting closer to her goal. As orders pour in and as of this writing, she is less than $200 away from the iPad purchase plus some extra money to purchase the apps the students need.
That's not all.
Anonymous donors, touched by Mollee's story, donated two iPads for Josef's classroom.
With Mollee's continuing contribution and the generous support of the anonymous donors, when all is said and done, this young artist will have given the gift of three iPads and apps to benefit Josef and his classmates. With this equipment and its select communication apps, it will open a new world for these students and their families.
Really, a dream come true and a great way to kick off 2012.
Mollee continues to plug away tirelessly with her drawings. Buyers are raving about their pictures and continue to cheer her on.
We are cheering on Mollee, too.
She has a full community behind her. One drawing at a time.
To further support Mollee's project and to learn more, please click on the fiverr.com links above to see Mollee's site.