Caleb’s Fund for Kids event tonight
Caleb Adwell
Caleb’s Fund for Kids is an aspiring non-profit and was founded by Vanessa Riley, a senior at Northeast Nodaway High School.
The goal of Caleb’s Fund for Kids is to raise funds for kids in underdeveloped countries so they can receive school supplies and access to a better education.
Caleb Adwell, a student at Northeast Nodaway, passed away on November 14, 2013 shortly after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
After Adwell passed away, Riley wanted to start the fund in his memory.
“I’ve thought about doing something like this for a while,” Riley said. “But Caleb’s death gave me the push to start the fund.”
In June 2015, Riley designed and created a website to get the word out about Caleb’s Fund for Kids.
Riley has organized a free-will spaghetti dinner at Northeast Nodaway school from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on tonight to raise support for the fund.
A team of volunteers and students from Upward Bound, a summer enrichment program at Northwest Missouri State University for high school youth, will serve the spaghetti dinner.
Riley wants the community to know how much she appreciates their support.
“Everyone is welcome,” Riley said. “I hope everyone will come out and help us educate the world.”
Money raised from the spaghetti dinner will go to help Under the Son Ministries, a non-profit who provides support to children in Northern Thailand.
“I like helping people as much as I can and want to share that experience with others.” Riley said.
Riley found donations for the spaghetti dinner from local businesses and donors in the community.
“I put the idea out there and found people to help me make this a success,” Riley added.
The Adwell family has also been a huge support to Riley. Riley’s father, Rex Riley says he can’t thank them enough.
“The family has been very supportive and offered to help any way they can,” Rex said. “They are so glad a classmate is keeping Caleb’s memory alive. The family has even offered to help with funds to make Caleb’s Fund for Kids an official non-profit someday.”
Currently, Caleb’s Fund for Kids partners with Northeast Nodaway Foundation until it receives non-profit status.
Riley has big dreams for the future of Caleb’s Fund for Kids.
“I want to be an official non-profit someday and take the support raised to kids in other countries personally,” Riley said. “I want to make this an annual event and open other doors for the fund and for helping other kids around the world.”
For more information about Caleb’s Fund for Kids visit the website www.calebsfundsforkids.weebly.com or like the Facebook page.