Island sixth-grader fundraises for Haiti

By BRITA MOORE
Mercer Island Reporter Contributor
July 30, 2012 · 2:08 PM

The Crenshaw family of Mercer Island has been actively involved in efforts to restore Haiti after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. Now their youngest daughter, Eliza, is raising money for a new motorcycle to get around Port-au-Prince. Over the last year, she fundraised for an orphanage to help children go to school.

"My dad showed me pictures of how they didn't really have anything there," she said. "My friends and I thought we could help."

Eliza, 11, will begin sixth grade at Islander Middle School this fall. After speaking to the head of the Haitian Orphanage, she decided to raise money to supply its most pertinent needs. She had bake sales, a garage sale and a Hennas for Haiti stand. She and and her friend Naomi Hughes drew the henna tattoos themselves.

"Whenever I've gone to Hawaii I've gotten henna tattoos," she said. "I wanted to learn how to do it and do something different."

The total raised was $1,000, paying for a generator, fuel and birth certificates for the children, which allow them to go to school. She will need to raise $800 for the motorcycle, which she is hoping to do by selling duct tape flowers and wallets.

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