Community Corner
A Good Cause Rises From The Ashes
A 10-year-old girl raises money for a troubled family.
Sofia Pfaffl believes that it's important to help others, and she's showing that passion by raising money for a local family who's home was destroyed by a fire.
Sofia has had a desire to help others for as long as she could remember, but it wasn't until she read the book “Chicken Soup For The Preteen Soul” that she decided to take action.
“It (the book) talked about making a difference in the world. And it gave me an idea to start a charity,” Sofia said. “And when a tragic situation happened to a fellow student's family, I decided that it was probably time to start my charity.”
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That tragic situation was her classmate's house burning down, forcing the family to move into a motel with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Sofia began We Care, her first charity, by sending out e-mails to her friends' parents with a goal to raise $200. Sofia has raised almost $1,000 already and planned to cease fund raising, but kept going when so many people continued to express a desire to help.
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However, this was not the first time she made an effort to help others. Sofia explained how her school, , also encourages students to help make a difference and that is part of what taught her to give to others.
“We just ended pennies for patients, and we do some other stuff sometimes,” Sofia said. "They talk about how one person can make a difference in the world, and one little thing can change everything.”
She also credits her family as a major inspiration for her efforts.
“My father is the head coach at Stritch (), and he won head coach, but he didn't tell us because he wanted everybody to be a part of his team,” Sofia said. “And my mom has put together fundraisers at her work; she helps people too.”
Her mother, Janice Pfaffl, said Sofia has been interested in helping others since she was young. When Sofia was just 8 years old, she said some very encouraging words to her mother.
“Sofia said, 'Think about all those people you help, you love your job.' And I went and told my coworkers what my 8-year-old daughter said.”
Sofia said her charity will not end with this fundraiser. After she has finished this project, she plans to devote her energy to a new cause. While she doesn't know quite what that new cause will be just yet, she has very large aspirations.
“Later on, I'm going to raise money and do stuff for anyone in the world who needs help,” Sofia said. “So, it could pretty much be for anybody.”
When congratulated, she shows selflessness at even her young age, shifting the focus off of herself and onto the issue.
“I'm just trying to help other people so a life can be better,” Sofia stated. “I feel so grateful for what my family has, and I want to help other families too.”
If you would like to contribute to Sofia's cause, please send donations to her home at: 314 E. Green Tree Rd., Fox Point, WI. She can also be reached by telephone at: (414) 247-1911.
