Just after the start of the new year, I was thinking about who to interview next for this series. The answer came to me in the Monterey County Weekly. They had written a short piece on Bryce Rosenau, a fourth grader at Junipero Serra School. Bryce sold bracelets he made at the Rio Grill’s Resolution Run to raise funds for the Natividad Medical Foundation’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

I tracked Bryce down for an interview.

Deborah: How did you get the idea to make bracelets and sell them?

Bryce: My mom was working with this project and I just wanted to help. I knew how to make the bracelets so I said how about I make money this way.

D: What kind of bracelets are they?

B: They are called rainbow loom bracelets and you make them on a loom with rubber bands. I made 100 bracelets.

D: How long did it take you to make all the bracelets?

B: I started in September and I finished in December.

D: And you made every single bracelet yourself?

B: Uh-huh.

D: You asked people to make a donation for the bracelet. Did you ask for a certain amount?

B: It was $5 for a bracelet.

D: Did you sell them all?

B: No, I sold about 50 and got donations. $300 total.

D: Before this did you know anything about Natividad Medical Center?

B: Not really. The only thing I knew was that my mom worked with them last year and I helped set up and got everything ready [for the Rio Grill’s Resolution Run].

D: What did you do this year?

B: This year I did the bracelets and then I also helped get more money for the babies at Natividad Medical Center [in the neonatal intensive care unit].

D: Why are the babies at Natividad so important to you?

B: The babies are sick and were born early. I just wanted to help out. I wanted those babies to survive.

D: Have you had a chance to visit the NICU? What was it like?

B: Yes. Well, they had all their machines for them and I think there were 10 babies there.

D: What does giving mean to you?

B: Helping or giving up something I have to other people.

D: Was this your first time doing something like this? Volunteering?

B: Yes.

D: Who was your biggest influence in deciding to do this?

B: My mom.

D: What is it about your mom that really made you want to do this?

B: My mom said if you really want to do something about this you can and then that’s when it hit me what I wanted to do.

D: What have you learned about giving from your mom?

B: Don’t keep everything to yourself. Share with other people.

D: What did you like best about this experience?

B: Seeing the NICU.

D: So you got to see how the money you raised was being used?

B: Uh-huh.

D: How did that make you feel?

B: Happy.

D: Do you think you’d do something like this again?

B: I might do something different. Maybe save money [and support the NICU].

D: Do you want to get your friends involved? How would you get them involved?

B: Yes. Maybe ask them “do you want to help?” and it’s for this certain cause.

D: How do you think people reacted to you doing this?

B: Maybe they’d want to help after I do this. Some of the people [at the Rio Grill’s Resolution Run] were surprised and excited.

D: Before you did this, did you think a nine-year-old could save a life?

B: No.

D: Do you think you can now?

B: Yes.

This last exchange was so heartwarming and powerful. I truly believe that Bryce will be forever changed as a result of this experience. He’s starting to learn the joy of giving. It can mean changing a life!

If you know a young philanthropist in your life that I should interview, please contact me.