Little Red Wagon Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Little Red Wagon Foundation is a non-profit
charity
that raises money and collects supplies for needy
children. Founded in 2005 by Zach Bonner
, the organization has raised thousands of dollars to build apartments for the needy.
Prior to establishing the organization, Bonner aided children during the aftermath of Hurricane Charley
in 2004. Pulling his little red wagon
, he went to neighboring households and collected 27 truckloads of disaster supplies, including tarp
s and water. He established the organization "[t]o continue helping kids more efficiently" and because federal law restricted how many donations he could receive. The organization was christened the "Little Red Wagon Foundation" because he was given this moniker by his neighbors when he was collecting donations.
, Tampa, Florida
, to Tallahassee
over a period of 23 days. His walk was inspired by a documentary about the Peace Pilgrim, a woman who walked 25,000 miles to advocate peace.
During the walk, Cracker Barrel
donated 50 meals to Zach Bonner and his fellow walkers. At night, he; his sister, Kelly; and his mother, Laurie; slept in an RV
. The RV would be parked in state parks, and every morning, Bonner and his fellow walkers would be transported by a car to the stopping point of the preceding day.
The walk ended at the Florida State Capitol
, and raised $25,000.
to Atlanta, Georgia
. The walk raised over $7,000 to help pay for a Habitat for Humanity
home for a homeless family in Macon, Georgia
.
, to the White House
to raise money to build apartment
s for the 1.3 million homeless children in the U.S. The trip had a projected cost of $6,000. Bonner said that he was going on the walk because "[t]hirteen kids on average die everyday for no other reason than the effects of being homeless. I walk for them. I walk to help give a voice to the kids that do not have one."
Every day, Bonner, his older sister, and his mother Laurie walked about 10 to 13 miles. After every couple of days of walking, Zach Bonner changed shoes. During the walk, the Bonners listened to their iPod
s when they are on backroads. When they were on busier roads, they did not because they had to "pay attention to the road and make sure [they] don't get run over". At night, Zach Bonner slept in an RV driven by his mother, while his sister slept in a Volkswagen Beetle
.
The 668-mile, 59-day walk was completed on July 10. He met with Saxby Chambliss
and spoke with several other U.S. Senators on Capitol Hill. He slept at the Sasha Bruce emergency shelter.
Bonner collected letters from children and at the end of his two-month trek, he gave the letters to President Barack Obama
. When he reached Washington D.C., he received a $25,000 donation from Elton John
. The money was used to renovate apartment
s for homeless children.
. Calling the trip "March Across America", he began the 2,478-mile walk on March 23, 2010. The 2,478 mile trip took nearly six months to finish. At a speed of three miles per hour, Bonner walked five hours every day. He covered about an average of 17–22 miles every day. Throughout the walk, he visited homeless shelters to hold activities for the children who live there, such as having parties for them. Bonner's family walked with him during the trip. His mother, Laurie, was with him for the entire walk. His sister, Kelley, walked with him for six weeks, and his brother, Matt, walked the second half of the journey with him.
The Office Depot Foundation donated 2,478 backpacks to needy children, one for every mile Bonner walks. On September 14, 2010, Bonner completed the nearly 2,500-mile-walk to Los Angeles.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
that raises money and collects supplies for needy
Needy
Needy may refer to:* Poverty* Codependent, a tendency to behave in overly passive or excessively caretaking ways that negatively impact one's relationships and quality of life...
children. Founded in 2005 by Zach Bonner
Zach Bonner
Zachary "Zach" L. Bonner is an American philanthropist and founder of the non-profit charity Little Red Wagon Foundation. Bonner received the Presidential Service Award in 2006....
, the organization has raised thousands of dollars to build apartments for the needy.
History
The Little Red Wagon Foundation was founded in 2005 by Zach Bonner and his mother when he was seven years old. He founded the organization to aid poverty-stricken children. Bonner said that, "These kids don't have a home, they don't have a safe place to sleep at night. They're out on the streets not because they want to be, but because it's out of their control."Prior to establishing the organization, Bonner aided children during the aftermath of Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
in 2004. Pulling his little red wagon
Toy wagon
A toy wagon has the same structure as the traditional, larger wagon, but is much smaller and has an open top. An average wagon is able to seat one child, and is generally propelled by human power through a handle at the front. Some famous brands are Radio Flyer, Red Rider, Northern Tool and...
, he went to neighboring households and collected 27 truckloads of disaster supplies, including tarp
Tarp
Tarp may mean:* Tarpaulin, a large sheet of strong, flexible, water resistant or waterproof material.* Tarp, Germany, a municipality in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.TARP or T.A.R.P. may mean:...
s and water. He established the organization "[t]o continue helping kids more efficiently" and because federal law restricted how many donations he could receive. The organization was christened the "Little Red Wagon Foundation" because he was given this moniker by his neighbors when he was collecting donations.
2007 walk
In 2007, Zach Bonner walked 250 miles from ValricoValrico, Florida
Valrico is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,582 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, to Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
over a period of 23 days. His walk was inspired by a documentary about the Peace Pilgrim, a woman who walked 25,000 miles to advocate peace.
During the walk, Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is an American chain of combined restaurant and gift stores with a Southern country theme. The company was founded by Dan Evins in 1969 and its first store was located in Lebanon, Tennessee, where the company is now headquartered...
donated 50 meals to Zach Bonner and his fellow walkers. At night, he; his sister, Kelly; and his mother, Laurie; slept in an RV
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
. The RV would be parked in state parks, and every morning, Bonner and his fellow walkers would be transported by a car to the stopping point of the preceding day.
The walk ended at the Florida State Capitol
Florida State Capitol
The Florida State Capitol, in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, is the state capitol of the U.S. state of Florida. The building is an architecturally and historically significant building, having been listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
, and raised $25,000.
2008 walk
In 2008, Zach Bonner went on a 270 mile walk from Tallahassee, FloridaTallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
to Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The walk raised over $7,000 to help pay for a Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat For Humanity International , generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat, is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing, a self-described "Christian housing ministry." The international...
home for a homeless family in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
.
2009 walk
In 2009, Zach Bonner went on a walk from Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
to raise money to build apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s for the 1.3 million homeless children in the U.S. The trip had a projected cost of $6,000. Bonner said that he was going on the walk because "[t]hirteen kids on average die everyday for no other reason than the effects of being homeless. I walk for them. I walk to help give a voice to the kids that do not have one."
Every day, Bonner, his older sister, and his mother Laurie walked about 10 to 13 miles. After every couple of days of walking, Zach Bonner changed shoes. During the walk, the Bonners listened to their iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
s when they are on backroads. When they were on busier roads, they did not because they had to "pay attention to the road and make sure [they] don't get run over". At night, Zach Bonner slept in an RV driven by his mother, while his sister slept in a Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen New Beetle
-Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:...
.
The 668-mile, 59-day walk was completed on July 10. He met with Saxby Chambliss
Saxby Chambliss
Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative ....
and spoke with several other U.S. Senators on Capitol Hill. He slept at the Sasha Bruce emergency shelter.
Bonner collected letters from children and at the end of his two-month trek, he gave the letters to President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. When he reached Washington D.C., he received a $25,000 donation from Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
. The money was used to renovate apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s for homeless children.
2010 walk
In 2010, Bonner walked from Tampa to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Calling the trip "March Across America", he began the 2,478-mile walk on March 23, 2010. The 2,478 mile trip took nearly six months to finish. At a speed of three miles per hour, Bonner walked five hours every day. He covered about an average of 17–22 miles every day. Throughout the walk, he visited homeless shelters to hold activities for the children who live there, such as having parties for them. Bonner's family walked with him during the trip. His mother, Laurie, was with him for the entire walk. His sister, Kelley, walked with him for six weeks, and his brother, Matt, walked the second half of the journey with him.
The Office Depot Foundation donated 2,478 backpacks to needy children, one for every mile Bonner walks. On September 14, 2010, Bonner completed the nearly 2,500-mile-walk to Los Angeles.
External links
- Official website
- Zach Tracker – tracks Zach's trip
- March Across America website