I have the honor and privilege of being the Grandmother of a very special little nine year old girl who lives with her family in Lake Forrest Park. She is a member of the safety patrol at her school and a role model for her peers. A couple of days ago, she announced to me on the phone that for her tenth birthday in March, she will ask her friends and family to contribute to the World Wildlife Fund instead of giving her presents. In her own words, when I ask why, she said "....To help endangered animals and make a difference in the world, and to make it clear that everyone, no matter what creature, deserves the best possible [life]." When I ask her to tell me her hope for her efforts, I was quite surprised at the maturity of the words she had for me: "Mainly just to help make planet earth a better place to live, but also to take action in one of my biggest interests and to feel good about what I am doing, and I hope, well I know that many other people are helping too, and I'm glad that I will get to be a part of a situation about animals that I really feel for."
I believe the world needs to know about youngsters like my Granddaughter and to know there truly is hope for future generations because of children like her.
