Girls raise money for charity
CRANBERRY TWP — Two young girls haven't yet reached their teens, but that doesn't mean they don't understand the importance of giving and helping people in need.
Jordan and Rachel Henne have combined forces each of the last four years to host a festival in August at their home on Trillium Drive.
Each festival has a distinct theme and is attended by nearly 30 of the girls' friends.
Jordan, 9, is entering the fourth grade at Rowan Elementary School while Rachel, 7, is entering the second grade at Rowan.
Each friend is asked to bring $10 to the event, which is then donated to charity.
Jennifer Henne, the girls' mother, said the pair raised more than $1,000 this year, including donations from those who couldn't attend and jewelry sales, money that they donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
This year's event had a safari theme as the girls engaged in various activities ranging from face painting and games to crafts and hairstyling.
The girls' grandmother, Marlene Henne, made jewelry to sell at the event, which concluded with a movie projected on the side of the family home.
The idea started four years ago when Jordan saw a television program centered on a young girl who made greeting cards and sold them for charity.
She immediately wanted to do something in a similar fashion, so she set out to create the annual festival.
Jennifer Henne estimated that the girls have raised more than $3,500 during the four-year period. Previous donations have gone to St. Jude's, Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
The festivals have grown each year mainly from word of mouth.
Jennifer Henne, who works as a teacher in Oakland Township, has also recruited fellow teachers to help with the project.
“I'm very proud of them,” she said of her children. “They certainly put a lot of work into it.”
Jordan said that while she enjoys other activities such as softball and soccer, nothing quite gives her the satisfaction of donating the money to charity.
“We could just donate the money, but this way is a lot more fun,” she said of the festival. “Each year, the hospital we donate to sends us a letter back thanking us. They tell us the specific name of a person we helped, and it makes me feel so good.”
Jordan said she anticipates the event year-round and is always thinking of additions or improvements.
While she doesn't have a theme picked out for next year's event, Jordan said she's already excited to get the planning underway for a bigger, better event.
