Then he heard the words of Juan Rivera, 11, at a Tropicana Speech Competition, and he knew he had found just the right person.

The subject of Juan’s speech was an organization called Kids Who Care. Juan is the president.

His speech was intended to help spread the word to other kids in the community who want to get involved. He said the mission of Kids Who Care is to “use their time, talent and treasure in cooperation with others to help meet the needs of low-income and homeless people in our community.”

“Anyone can be a philanthropist, if they have a desire to help the community,” Juan said.

Kids Who Care was started by a group of about seven youths who took a six-week course on philanthropy offered by Colleen Schenker, program director for youth development at Homeless Emergency Project in Clearwater. 

“After the course, they wanted more,” Schenker said. “So, they started the group and Juan was elected president.”

Schenker said Juan was the perfect choice for president.

“He’s such a strong leader and is the one most likely to keep the group going,” she said. “It’s one thing to have a group facilitated by an adult, but when it’s facilitated by a youth, that’s something special. Juan is a natural leader.”

Juan’s age is not the only thing that makes his stepping up into a leadership role so inspiring.

In his speech Juan said some of the members of Kids Who Care had experienced homelessness themselves. Juan has experienced homelessness.

Schenker said while his family now lives in a permanent housing project, it takes courage to admit that homelessness is part of your past and to identify with it and overcome it by helping other people.

The word philanthropy is a common part of the vocabulary for kids at HEP, Schenker said.

“We talk a lot about giving back and receiving.”

Kids Who Care has grown to a membership of more than 20, but Juan still is looking for more kids from area middle schools and high schools to join. He said the group meets once a week and dues are $20 a year. The money is used to buy bus passes for people to get to job interviews and the doctor.

The group recently sponsored a dance to raise money for HEP’s free dental clinic. The group also gets together to clean neighborhoods and paint houses for those in need.

Juan is a fifth grader at Northward Elementary School, where he is on the Safety Patrol. He is on the Principals List and Honor Roll recipient. He took seventh place out of 84 contestants in the Mighty Mu Math competition and was a top 12 finalist in the Tropicana Speech Competition.

Anyone interested in joining Kids Who Care can call 442-9041.

The People of Pinellas Award was created by Duncan to celebrate community spirit. Each month he will choose a recipient from nominations made by the public. The award recipient must be a Pinellas County citizen. Winners will be announced at BCC meetings and posted on the Internet at www.pinellascounty.org.

To request a nomination form, call 464-3377. Nominations also may be downloaded directly from www.pinellascounty.org. Forms can be e-mailed to peopleofpinellasaward@pinellascounty.org or mailed to Chairman Ronnie Duncan, 315 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.

Duncan said the People of Pinellas Award was designed to recognize people who are not paid by government or any organization or required to be where they are, but help others and the community because that’s what they do and who they are.

“You meet people each and every day – men, women and children, who are out there making this place a better place,” Duncan said at the Jan. 23 BCC meeting when he presented the first award. 

“We’re indeed blessed to have people like Juan in this community.”

Article reprinted with permission from the St. Petersburg Times. Read more…

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