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Local Middleschooler does her part for Africa’s orphans and
vulnerable children

By Ashley Luthern

In five days, one local teenager was able to raise $1,200 for the Empower Campaign – and she did it all on her own initiative.

Tess Rose, 14, of Athens organized a Penny Points program at Athens Middle School this year. Each homeroom was given a jar to collect pennies. “War” was declared as students snuck into other rooms to slip quarters and dollars into other jars, a tactic that took away from the pennies earned by that class.

“Everyone got really into it because we had penny wars in different homerooms,” Rose said, adding that the final boxes of coins were so heavy that the gym class had to help carry them.

Rose, as student body president, planned the fundraiser on her own as way to raise money for The Empower Campaign, an Athens-based organization that empowers women, children and communities in Africa through education.

But this wasn’t her first time helping children a world away.

Two years ago as sixth grade class president, Rose planned her first Penny Points program at the elementary school, which brought in $1,500. Rose learned about Empower from another teacher in the school who knew the campaign’s founder Andria Sherrow.

In seventh grade, Rose didn’t have the chance to lead a fundraiser because she was not president of student government. Instead, she donated $700 of her own savings to Empower.

“(Giving) makes me feel great. It seems like most kids are like ‘How would I be able to help someone that far away,’ or ‘I can’t make a difference’ and really you can,” she said. “It takes $50 to send a kid to school for a year and if you think about it, here that would never pay for everything we need, but it means a ton to them.”

Rose got her entire family involved with Empower, and together they have sponsored Ugandan Kaitirima Ronald for the three years that he has been in high school.

“We try to get our kids involved, but it’s so overwhelming, the world we live in… You just have to believe that you can make a difference. And (Tess is) very determined when she makes a commitment,” said Shannon Richmond, Rose’s mom.

That commitment spills over into other aspects of Rose’s life. An avid dancer, Rose practices about 10 hours each week and continues to lead in student government and her classes. She has been a strict vegan since October and a vegetarian her entire life. Rose plans to continue her commitment to Empower in the future.

“I never really realized how they lived in other places and, I mean, I really want to help people and help some sort of kids that need food or education or some sort of help,” she said.

To organize your own Penny Points Fundraiser for Empower, click here. * For more information, please contact The Empower Campaign. andria@empower campaign.org