12-year-old middle school student Elena Oliver took advantage of her day off from school for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to donate to a local Teddy Bear Fund, which gives teddy bears to kids in the hospital.
Elena requested that her friends and family not give her birthday gifts – and instead give her money that she could donate to charity.
So on Monday, she showed up at the hospital and met with the president of the Teddy Bear Fund to learn how the bears help young patients.
Elena was even able to hand out several bears to other kids during her visit to see how her charity efforts affect children first hand.
She says her reason for donating is simple. She likes to have kids happy and people happy – and she likes to think of others.