In honor of @GivingTuesday – we’d love to take this opportunity to inspire your day with a BIG story about a child, his teacher, and his community who are literally changing our world!!
Nicholas Stalford, a 5th Grader at Gold Hill Elementary School (Tega Cay, SC), wrote in to us last night to nominate his teacher, Mrs. Richardson, for the Flagology Hero Love Campaign for Teachers. I read his story in awe and was absolutely amazed at the love in the hearts of so many people – all mobilized by this little boy’s passion to help the children at Levine Children’s Hospital. Inspired by his teacher and helped by his parents and community, this kid gets it!! He understands the power of one – the impact one person can make on our world. He understands what’s really important in life – reaching out beyond ourselves – and making this world a better place for our brothers and sisters.
And Mrs. Richardson (4th grade Teacher at Gold Hill Elementary School) – we salute you and thank you for igniting this spark not only in Nicholas but in many, many students we’re certain you’ve inspired. You are our Hero today – on this @GivingTuesday – we’d like to pay it forward by telling Nicholas’ story and sharing the details of your project with our Flagology Friends and Family.
Without further ado, we present you Nicholas’ nomination about why Mrs. Richardson should be considered for our January Flagology Hero of the Month:
Lets see. It all started last year when I was in 4th grade and I met Mrs. Richardson. She made learning fun and for the first time I really liked going to Science and Math. Throughout the year she told all of us students that she collects tabs and then the money helps children with medical bills. I don’t drink soda so I told my mom and relatives so they gave me their tabs. At the end of the school year my mom asked me what I wanted to get Mrs. Richardson as a present. I said she’d want tabs. My mom looked at me in surprise and asked if I was sure. I said yes. On the last day of school my mom drove me and we brought two huge baggies of tabs to Mrs. Richardson. She hugged me and started to cry and that made my mom cry. My mom learned that the tabs were recycled and turned into money that then helped kids pay their medical bills. Over the summer I kept thinking about the tabs and my whole family became sticklers for taking everyone’s tabs. My mom would take a photo of me holding a bag, or jug, or jar full of tabs that would be dropped off at our door or put in our mailbox or someone would give us their address and we’d pick them up. Then she’d post the photo on Facebook to help spread the word. Before long we were receiving pounds of tabs. I knew it could be bigger and each tab would make a difference. Each person that helped would be that one more person helping make a difference for another kid that is sick or ill. So at the beginning of the year we started telling more and more people to get more tabs.
Then this past Fall my mom contacted Mrs. Richardson for me. I wanted our whole school to collect tabs. She loved the idea and so did the Principal, Mrs. Terry Brewer. My siblings and I made a big collection box with a plexiglass front so kids could see the box filling up with their tabs. We brought it to the school and the box is still filling up. The local newspaper has written a story about it, it’s been in our school newspaper and website, and today we were interviewed by CN2 News. Oh, we now have a “Flippin Tab Team” which is comprised of Mrs. Richardson, me, my sister Sophia a 4th grader, Kate Leanord a 5th grader like me, and my mom, Jennifer Stalford. Together we’re the Flippin Tab Team and “We’re Flippin Tabs for Levine Kids”. Levine is a children’s hospital near us in NC. Our school is Gold Hill Elementary School in Tega Cay, SC. We’ve giving our school a 5lb Challenge – yup, each student needs to collect 5 pounds of tabs between now and the end of school. Nobody wins anything. We’re helping the environment and helping kids. Mrs. Richardson says is called ‘paying it forward’. I just know if makes me feel good and my heart is getting bigger. Eventually we’d love to have every school in our district collecting tabs. Last week we received 6.4 pounds of tabs from a 1st grade class in North Carolina! This week some businesses told us they will start collecting them for us. This all started with one teacher, Mrs. Richardson saying collect one tab so one more child can be helped. This will go on much longer than a school year or our team cause it’s about the kids that need help.
Want to Help?
The “Flippin Tab Team” at GHES would like to invite students (at any school), families, and companies to take the 5lb Challenge … collect 5 pounds of tabs before the end of May. All tabs will be recycled and the funds will be donated to Levine Children’s Hospital‘s “Children’s Fund.” Those who take the challenge can collect them in a baggie, mason jar, jug, etc. then send them to Gold Hill Elementary School or the City of Tega Cay, SC‘s Administration Building.
Read more about Nicholas and Mrs. Richardson here: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2014/01/07/3201039/gold-hill-kids-flipping-for-levine.html.
Did you love Nicholas’ story? Leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts! Do you also have a story about a teacher who impacted you or your child who deserves recognition for being super awesome?!? If so – nominate him or her here by January 28th.
*Please note, this contest is no longer active.* Contact us at [email protected] with any questions.
Share this Story via Email – Click Here
