A couple of years ago, a young Madison girl, Samantha Alderson, wondered what she could do to help the children in the hospital.

 

She decided to host a birthday party with a philanthropic twist. Instead of gifts, attendees donated money to one behalf of children at American Family Children's Hospital. Samantha has organized these birthday parties for three consecutive years, and each time the Peter Pan Children's Fund, a charitable organization that educates and celebrates young philanthropists who support hospitals that care for children, sends $100 to the hospital in her name.

 

"I have a lot of toys already and thought the hospital could use the money for sick kids," Samantha says.

 

Since March 2007 Samantha's parties have raised $670 for programs at American Family Children's Hospital.

 

"It's nice to see that the kids don't miss the 'birthday gift' part of the party," says Samantha's mother, Mary. "They are

Samantha Alderson (second from right) and friends

just so happy to get together and have a good time! We always tell those who attend that their monetary gift brings lots of happiness to hospitalized children and their families. I remind them how lucky they are to be healthy and celebrate with their friends."

Due to her philanthropic spirit, Samantha is being recognized by the Peter Pan Children's Fund "Second Star to the Right Award." According to the Peter Pan Children's Fund Web site, award recipients "demonstrate great maturity and pureness of heart over and over again, establishing their identity as 'Philanthropist,' with a capital P.'"

 

The criteria for induction into the Second Star to the Right Hall of Fame includes the repetition of generosity in support of sick and injured children, and influencing friends and family to follow the lead.

 

American Family Children's Hospital thanks Samantha for her amazing support of our patients and for acting as a role model for other youth philanthropists.