One day in February, Golden Year 6 (2009), Riley and her mother Rhonda were watching the Today Show on TV, which described the hardships and needs of the Darfur refugees in Africa. Observing that instead of toys, the children only had “sticks, stones and dirt” as she put it, Riley decided right then and there that she was going to send her old toys to the children in that school. However, Riley didn’t stop here. On the way to school, she said to her mother, “Hey, I think I’m going to ask all of my school friends to do the same thing.” So she did that. Rhonda said, “Next thing you know, we have collection boxes all around Mechanicsburg, and we’ve collected hundreds of thousands of toys.”

Starting with one preschooler, a difference was being made—through Riley’s Toys for Darfur, which generated a huge response in her community. They have received contributions from Riley’s school and neighborhood friends, former teachers and people who read the story in the paper. In addition, the media have also been helping to spread the good news of these wonderful deeds. Radio station BOB 94.9 invited Riley to share her heart-warming story with their audience. When asked why she wanted to send toys to the children in the refugee camps in Darfur, she said, “Because they didn’t have any toys and then it wouldn’t be fair if I got all of them.”

	Thank you letter from Riley and her mom, Rhonda, for Master’s US$10,000 contribution

With the loving support of her mom and dad, Riley’s consideration and kindness brought comfort to more than 3,500 refugee children, in just the first shipment of toys through World Vision, an international humanitarian organization.

When Supreme Master Ching Hai heard of this inspired, little angel’s noble, thoughtful project, She contributed US$10,000 to assist her and her family, which enabled Riley’s Toys for Darfur to evolve into a foundation and help children throughout Africa. The caring child said she would save the money for the school to build a big climber and playground. Riley and Rhonda were deeply grateful upon receiving Master’s generous gift that included Her bestselling animal books, and wrote Her a thank you letter, saying they can now send toys four times a year to Africa, hoping to fulfill their aim which is to give each child in Africa a toy.

We sincerely thank Riley, her family and all the generous fellow citizens for their altruism and dedication in helping to comfort the children worldwide who so desperately need it. May Heaven bless you all abundantly.

Reference: http://www.rileystoys.org/index.html

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