Downers Grove Third-Grader Donates Books, Supplies to Benefit Jamaican Children

The following article was submitted by Downers Grove Grade School District 58:

When Gabriella Frank and her family visited the West End Early Childhood Institution in Jamaica last year to participate in the weekly Sandals Foundation Reading Road Trip, she was struck by the needs of the school and its students.

“We saw that children had to share supplies, even pencils, and I wanted to do something to help,” she said.

Gabriella, a third-grader at Henry Puffer School in Downers Grove, decided to spearhead a school supply drive. In honor of her 9th birthday, her goal was to collect and purchase 99 books, 99 pencils, 99 sets of crayons and markers and other school supplies. She exceeded that goal, accumulating 117 pencils, 127 books, and more than 100 packs of crayons.

“Everyone got something that they can use,” Gabriella said.

When Gabriella and her family traveled to Jamaica over winter break, she delivered the donation to a representative from the Sandals Foundation, which has adopted the West End Early Childhood Institution.

“The Sandals Foundation’s ongoing book drives have resulted in thousands of books being filtered into the Caribbean’s school system, and we are extremely proud to have ambassadors like Gabriella who help us to make this difference in our communities,” Sandals Regional Public Relations Manager (Negril) Kendra Johnson told the Jamaica Observer.

Through the Sandals Foundation, Gabriella’s donation will be shared among the Negril Branch Library and several schools in Westmoreland, according to the Observer.

Gabriella even received accolades from Jamaica’s Minister of Education; a letter from Ronald Thwaites to the Sandals Foundation asked the organiziation to “express my personal thanks to Gabriella for her selfless act.”

Gabriella also won first place in last year’s Kohl’s Kids Who Care contest for her generosity.

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