Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet microgrant recipient Briana (9) from New Rochelle, NY. Briana attends a small K-8 school of about 40 families and wanted to bring everyone together to create a sense of community and “do something great” for a local organization called Project Linus which provides handmade blankets for hospitals specifically for young children. Briana previously volunteered with her mom to make the Project Linus no sew blankets at a local 9/11 Day of Service and shared the experience with students & their families on Family Volunteer Day.

Meet Karma for Cara Foundation microgrant recipient Sanjeev (12) from Decatur, GA. Sanjeev used his award to deliver books & school supplies to migrant children in his community. This is an ongoing project for Sanjeev called DREAM (Donate & Recycle to Educate All Mankind); prior to this particular project, he collected & donated 6,210 books for migrant children. For Sanjeev’s K4C project, he partnered with Hall County Schools & the Right-to-Write Foundation (who provided pens & pencils) to host a school supply /book drive for Georgia Migrant & Seasonal Headstart. 

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. After learning that over 20% of her school’s population qualifies as Specialty Resource students–ranging from ADHD to high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder–Abigail (17) from Norfolk, VA used her grant to build a Sensory Herb Spiral Garden within her school’s outdoor gardening area. The existing outdoor garden was already dedicated to teaching outdoor gardening, healthy living and environmental issues, and elementary school students visit it once a week as part of the curriculum. Abigail’s research indicated that a sensory garden can be very therapeutic for individuals who suffer from sensory problems & may be used as a calming place and as a gentle way to stimulate the senses. In such a garden, children with sensory processing disorders feel safe & comfortable exploring their senses without feeling overwhelmed by them. For children who do not suffer from a disability, a sensory garden is beneficial in that it is a fun, educational tool that allows them to explore and learn about their senses & nature.