TLF launches the "2U Fund"

From The Citizens' Voice:
[02/21/08] Nobody would expect a 7-year-old to start a philanthropic project.

But that’s exactly what Richie Kraus did when he asked his mother what poor children do on their birthday.

During Christmas in 2006, Richie was assisting his school’s toy drive for disadvantaged kids, and he wondered how these same kids celebrated their birthdays.

If their families didn’t have enough money to get them Christmas presents, Richie reasoned, how could they receive birthday presents? When he figured out they might not get as many gifts as him, let alone a gift, he told his mom he wanted to help them have a happy birthday.

“My mom was surprised. She said it was a thoughtful thing for me to say,” Richie said.

Last year, Richie and his mother, Paula Chaiken, approached the Luzerne Foundation about setting up a fund to help purchase birthday gifts for children of low-income families. That’s how the 2U Fund was born. The 2U Fund specifically raises money to purchase birthday presents and treats for children whose families don’t have the means for birthday celebrations.

Currently the 2U Fund is still in its starting stages, said Charles Barber, president and CEO of the Luzerne Foundation. The Luzerne Foundation and Richie’s family hope to raise money for the 2U Fund by having children send a note with their birthday party invitations asking those invited to donate to the 2U Fund instead of buying a present for the birthday boy or girl.

“It is a great way to get children to learn to give. The kids have to give something up to be able to give,” Chaiken said.

The community already has numerous holiday-themed programs to provide for children, such as Toys for Tots and Valley Santa. The 2U Fund program is special because it recognizes kids on the day specifically for them — their birthday.

According to Barber, the 2U Fund will donate its first presents later in February and the foundation aims to keep the giving confidential. The Luzerne Foundation will most likely donate the money to places where there are children in need, such as The Salvation Army Kirby Family House or the McAuley House. Those places will then purchase gifts for the children.

“It is a great gesture on the part of the parents. It’s a great way to help, we hope it will catch on,” Barber said.

As Richie gets ready to celebrate his eighth birthday on Feb. 16, he hopes some people coming to his party will donate to the 2U Fund. But he’s also looking forward to receiving a couple presents and having fun with his family — including his dad Joe Kraus and his brothers Max, 5, and Teddy, 19 months. Richie, a student at Wyoming Seminary, especially enjoys birthday parties, presents and, of course, cake. People need to learn to help out each other, Richie says, and that’s how he sees the 2U Fund, as a way to help out those people who need it most.

“Well, not everyone can be equal. If somebody falls and breaks their leg, somebody can drive them to the hospital,” Richie said.

Story by: Caleb Scheaffer

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From The Times Leader:
[02/21/08] KINGSTON – If 8-year-old Richie Kraus gets his wish, none of the attendees at his birthday party will bring him any presents.

Instead, the second-grader at Wyoming Seminary Lower School is hoping his classmates will make a monetary donation to the 2U Fund, a project of the Luzerne Foundation that aims to provide birthday presents for needy children in Luzerne County. The 2U Fund also happens to be Richie's brainchild.

The young philanthropist got his idea during the Christmas 2006 holiday when he was just 6 years old.

"At school, he had been collecting toys for disadvantaged kids for Christmas, and then he made the leap from Christmas to birthdays," said his mother Paula Chaiken. "He said, 'Well we help them for Christmas, but does anybody help them for their birthdays?"

And, from "the mouths of babes," a wonderful idea was born, said Charles Barber, executive director of the Luzerne Foundation.

The Luzerne Foundation was created as a means for individuals and families, businesses, civic groups and other charitable organizations to make and preserve gifts and bequests to the community.

Barber said he was extremely impressed when he discovered the idea for the 2U Fund came from a 6-year-old.

"It makes so much sense, but it takes a certain level of maturity for a child that age to come up with that idea."

Barber said the ages the fund will target are children between 3 and 12. The foundation will accept the donations on behalf of the 2U Fund and allocate the money to charities, which will decide what gifts to buy and who will receive them.

Barber said the first charity to benefit from the 2U Fund will be the Kirby Family House, a homeless shelter in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Two children living at the shelter have birthdays in March. To keep a level of confidentiality for the families involved, Barber said there will be no fanfare when the gifts are presented.

"Birthdays are your special day; we can't do it for everyone, but hopefully we'll be able to benefit as many people as possible," he said.

In addition to helping those in need have a happy birthday, Chaiken is hoping the 2U Fund will serve as inspiration for children to get involved in good causes.

"One of the things I really wanted was for the kids to have to give up something. It's one thing for them to ask their parents for money to give to the SPCA … and that's really nice, but I thought it was really important for the kids to give up something so they'd know what real philanthropy was like."

Just like any other birthday boy, Richie is happy to talk about the plans for his Pokemon party – there will be plenty of games, a pinata, and guests will be treated to a showing of the Pokemon movie. But he's just as excited as he rattles off how much money has been donated so far.

"Seven hundred and fifty dollars," says Richie with a big grin, after his mother gives him a hand with the numbers.

Richie's birthday was Feb. 16, and his mother assures a reporter he received some gifts from his family. She beams with pride when she talks about how a simple observation from a young boy grew into a good cause.

"I was really proud that he would be so thoughtful and generous. I just thought we really need to make this happen," Chaiken said.

"Birthdays are your special day; we can't do it for everyone, but hopefully we'll be able to benefit as many people as possible," said Barber.

Story by: Heidi Roccograndi
Photo by: Aimee Dilger/The Times Leader