What We're Doing
In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown has found that its greatest source of healing has been in helping. Ben's Lighthouse, a non-profit youth support organization named for named for 6-year-old victim Ben Wheeler and his love of lighthouses, was founded on that mission: to bring joy back into the lives and smiles back onto the faces of Newtown's children.
The purpose of a lighthouse is to guide and protect, and that is how we see our role. We will establish programs, events and activities that enlighten and affirm each child in a safe environment: we will encourage conversation to gain understanding of how each child is coping; we will provide counsel and support when needed; we will recruit and utilize experts to deal with life’s events and circumstances that could be particularly troublesome for our kids; we will generate activities that promote a positive self-image and, for the older youth, that encourage community service. Throughout all these activities, we will always nurture an environment of non-violence and caring towards self and others.
Now, Ben's Lighthouse wants to send 40 of Newtown's kids (aged 14-18) on a mission trip (through the Group Workcamps organization) to Oklahoma to work on the restoration of homes destroyed in the tornadoes. This trip will provide Newtown's kids with the oppurtunity to meet and help those whose lives have been completely disrupted, and to experience the healing power that comes from helping others.
What We Need and What You Get
Including airfare, food, and lodging, it will cost about $1000 to send one kid on this trip. We're running this campaign because the more we can bring that cost down, the more kids we can support to go heal by helping.
$1 gets you the insanely good feeling that you've contributed to something amazing.
$20 gets you a sticker featuring the Newtown logo and ribbon that you can put on your car, laptop, water bottle, etc. and the insanely good feeling that you've contributed to something amazing.
$100 gets you a Ben's Lighthouse t-shirt and the insanely good feeling that you've contributed to something amazing.
$1000 makes you the official sponsor of a young adult on the Group Workcamps trip. You will receieve a letter from an attendee of the trip about their experiences. You'll also get a Ben's Lighthouse t-shirt and the insanely good feeling that you've contributed to something amazing.
$20000...let's face it: You're not looking for a tshirt...you're just looking to help. We love you. You're welcome in Newtown any time. We'll have a nice dinner. (And don't worry, you can still have that t-shirt if you want it!)
Other Ways You Can Help
Share this campaign with anyone and everyone.
Help a child today, even if it's in a small way.
(Participants will be added to the trip based on funds raised through this site and other fundraising efforts, subject to availability of flights and an appropriate chaperone-to-youth ratio. Any excess funds raised through this campaign which cannot be spent specifically for this trip will be applied to future Ben's Lighthouse initiatives.)