'World Changing' Talent Show at Smith Elementary on Friday - Public is Invited

They may not be old enough to get a driver's license or vote, but students insist they are old enough to change the world! They are inviting people of all ages to join them, by sponsoring and attending their "Sam's World Changing Talent Show" on May 20th from 7 to 9 p.m. at Samantha Smith Elementary.

This talent show has a twist: The kids are using their talent to help others! They're getting "sponsors" for their acts and raising money to support causes that the kids researched and selected: The American Red Cross for Japan Disaster Relief, Kids with Cancer at Seattle Children's Hospital, and the National Wildlife Federation.  You may go online to read much more about what they're doing, the causes they've selected, and to DONATE! 

This all started last fall as part of an after-school community service club for 4th - 6th graders, inspired by Samantha Smith who didn't let her young age get in the way of reaching out to a leader of Russia to ask him to reconsider going to war with the USA back in the 1980s.

This club wants to change the world, too. Check out the links and the presentation they made about who they are, who they're helping, and why they do what they do.

Since they've started, the club consisting of more than 20 4th-6th graders has helped the Issaquah Food Bank and the residents at Providence Marianwood.
 
"This talent show is by far their biggest, most ambitious effort," said Anne Royse Ginther, the 2011 SAMMI "Youth Advocate" Award winner, and a parent advisor to the group.

"The kids came up with this idea as a way to include the students of all ages at their school.  They wanted to take advantage of the diverse talents and put them toward something good."
 
Now, they're inviting the community at large to join them. Go to the website, donate and leave messages of support.  And of course, come to the talent show on Friday, May 20 for some world-changing fun!

Editor's note: This information was sent by Sammamish-based RandomKid. It is being posted, as it was written, as a public service announcement.