St. Tammany News

Two young Covington girls are applying sound business principles to the art of helping others.

Twelve-year-old Mary-Brent Brown, a student at Kehoe-France Northshore, became inspired to hold a fund-raiser after reading a book this past spring called "Miss Popularity," in which one of the characters stages a charity fashion show.

Beverly and Mary-Brent Brown

She began calling local hotels to obtain group rates and seating capacity, then devised a fund-raising plan with her younger sister, Beverly. Mary-Brent then decided to take the idea a step further, and with the assistance of her parents, Stacy and Brent, formed an all-volunteer nonprofit organization called Kids Wanna Help.

"Kids Wanna Help gives kids the opportunity to raise money for charities through activities that build confidence and self-esteem and foster a lifetime of community activism," said Stacy, an attorney with a New Orleans law firm.

While Stacy and Brent are on hand to ensure fiscal responsibility and compliance with the laws governing 501(c)(3) corporations, Mary-Brent and Beverly coordinate all of the group's activities.

"Mom is basically our secretary," said Mary-Brent with a big smile.

After months of preparation, the event was held in September at Tchefuncta Country Club and included a luncheon, silent auction, and fashion show featuring 33 fourth- through seventh-graders as models.

Also walking the runway was Madelyn Egan, 6, who is battling leukemia and participated in the show prior to undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

"Madelyn is younger than the other girls, but we really thought it was important to have her in the show," said Beverly.

The girls had originally intended to give the money to Children's Hospital but were never able to coordinate the necessary details with hospital administrators.

A family friend put them in touch with the J.L. Foundation, named in memory of Jennifer Leslie, a graduate of St. Scholastica Academy who lost a battle with leukemia in 2001.

The benefit raised over $11,000, and proceeds will help the foundation assist families in covering expenses incurred during treatment, such as plane tickets, hotels, meals and gas.

The fund-raiser's theme was "To Be Beautiful, You Have to Be Yourself!"

A weekend workshop was held prior to the event featuring guest speakers such as Covington Mayor Candace Watkins, New Orleans realtor Lisa Keiffer, who was a participant on the reality show "Survivor: Vanuatu" in 2004, and Julie Andre, an image consultant.

"The event brought a lot of girls in the community together, and it was heartwarming to see them having so much fun while doing something meaningful," said Watkins. "Mary-Brent did a wonderful job in planning it, and both of them are way ahead of a lot of girls their age."

Plans are already in the works for another show to be held next fall, with the goal of raising $20,000.

In addition, Kids Wanna Help will launch the Lemonade Brigade in the summer, wherein teams of youngsters will run lemonade stands to raise money that will be donated to charity.

Mary-Brent and Beverly have even written a business plan for the project.

The idea is that representatives from several charities will make presentations to the teams on how their group will benefit from the money raised by the lemonade stands. Each team will then make its own decision about how the money will be distributed.

Sponsors are being sought to underwrite the cost of aprons, hats and cups.

Prize donations are also needed for the awards ceremony at the end of the summer, which will recognize teams raising the most money in one day, for example, as well as the most passionate parents.

"We really hope to get a lot of donations," said Mary-Brent. "That way all of the money we raise can go directly to the charities."

Stacy emphasizes that she is there strictly in an advisory capacity.

"The kids make all the decisions and do all of the legwork," she said. "Beverly will run the Lemonade Brigade from our house, and everything will be run by her."

Mary-Brent, in the meantime, will make presentations to various civic groups, such as the Covington Kiwanis Club and board at Pelican Park, in an effort to secure support and participation.

The two girls are planning for a lifetime of service. Mary-Brent hopes to study pediatric oncology, following in the footsteps of her grandmother, who is an oncology nurse, while Beverly intends to become a veterinarian.

For more information on Kids Wanna Help, call 875-0407.