Students Deliver a Strong Message to President Obama

Coming to Washington, D.C. for the first time was an amazing experience for eight-year-old Makenna, an elementary school student from Friendswood, Texas whose school participated in Save the Children's Survive to 5 campaign by making more than 120 tiny caps to keep newborns warm.

"Saving babies' lives is really important and I was glad to go all the way to Washington, D.C. to be part of this campaign," said Makenna.

Her school counselor, Barbara Gruener, also travelled to D.C. and led the school project. "Students like Makenna know what a difference even a child can make to help better the world," said Barbara. "I could just feel the love that went into every stitch of those caps they were making for babies they'll never meet and that compassion will undoubtedly last them a lifetime!"

White House Gets a Scrapbook

Across the country, more than 100,000 caps were made along with 8,000 letters and petitions to the Obama administration, most of them from children like Makenna. They sent a powerful message to President Obama about saving newborn lives around the world.

2009 Advocacy Day, a group from Mankato Minnesota, Teacher Pam Bartels, 8th graders, Emily and Lindsay and teacher Mary Draper.

Makenna, her mom, and the school's counselor also attended a special White House briefing on April 21, 2009. So did 13-year-olds Lindsay and Emily (pictured at right), who came from Mankato, Minnesota along with their eighth-grade teacher Mary Draper.

The kids presented a "Dear Mr. President" scrapbook with letters and photos from participants from around the country to Gayle Smith, the Obama administration's senior national security council advisor for Stabilization, Reconstruction and Development.

At the briefing Save the Children President and CEO, Charles MacCormack underscored the importance of the grassroots initiative. "The campaign not only raised awareness among Americans about the importance of saving the four million newborns that die each year from preventable causes, but it allowed children and adults to become a part of the solution."

A Life-changing Experience

For Makenna, Lindsay, Emily and thousands of other students across the country, participating in the Survive to 5 campaign is a concrete, practical way that kids can make a difference. They've been creating small caps for newborns and writing letters about it for months.

"These educational opportunities have really touched our students in life-changing ways." says Draper. "We are so thankful that Save the Children has allowed us to partner with them in an effort to make positive global change."

Watch videos of Kids Helping Kids from Connecticut, Kentucky and Texas.

Global Impact of Grassroots Campaign

Save the Children launched a grassroots initiative called Knit One Save One in September 2008, asking knitters, crocheters and other supporters to help save newborn lives by making caps and writing letters to President Obama urging him to do more to increase funding for newborn survival globally.

By the end of December, 12,000 participants had made more than 100,000 caps. Participants included elementary and middle school students, grandmothers, businesses, church groups, youth clubs and others from all 50 states and several other countries.

See our Google Map showing grassroots participation.

The caps are being delivered to help newborns in 5 different countries: 25,000 will be sent to El Salvador; 20,000 to Ethiopia; 25,000 to Malawi; 25,000 to Nepal; and 5,000 to Nicaragua.

Learn more about Survive to 5.

Last Updated May 2009