Local Youth Wins Scholarship Through Volunteering

When it comes to things 11-year-old girls do in their spare time, quite a few things might come to mind.

Skateboarding, video games and enjoying the musical artistry of one Mr. Bieber—all of these are things that you might see your average 11-year-old doing. Casey Lowry of Pasadena, however, has other plans. She has spent more than 200 hours of her spare time helping out kids in hospitals by working with the Kami's Jammies program.

Her work hasn't been thankless. Nationwide department store Kohl's has awarded Lowry a $1,000 college scholarship through their Kohl's Cares Scholarship program, which offers college aid for outstanding kids. Winners are chosen based on their contributions to their community. As a local and regional winner, Casey may also be eligible for a $10,000 scholarship if she wins on the program's national level.

Kami's Jammies is part of the Casey Cares Foundation. It provides sleepwear and themed pajama parties to pediatric patients in hospitals around the area. It was inspired by Kamryn Lambert, a pediatric patient who passed away from leukemia in 2007 at the age of 9. Casey's grandmother runs the program.

"I participate in fashion shows to raise money and I've gone on the news twice to raise publicity," said Casey when asked about what she does with Kami's Jammies. "My soccer team was in a bowl-a-thon to raise money and I also help my grandma pack pajamas for kids."

Casey said that the passing of her cousin, who had cancer, inspired her to work with the charity.

"I was really close to her," said Casey. "She was one of my best friends. I know how good it would have made her feel to get a pair of pajamas from Kami's Jammies."

Casey said she plans to keep working with charity groups as she gets older and that she hopes to one day be a soccer player or teacher.

"I'm very proud of her," said Casey's father, James Lowry. "She's never gotten anything but an A on any report card. She's a little shy and keeps to herself so it's nice to see her being rewarded, nice to see her getting something out of it."

James Lowry also helps out with Kami's Jammies and plans to encourage Casey's 5-year-old sister to work with the charity when she's old enough to do so.