Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Nadya, a 17-year-old who organizes the distribution of monthly care packages of feminine products to women in need.

1. What inspired you to start Camions of Care?

I was inspired to found Camions of Care after my own experience with a degree of homelessness. My mother lost her job two years ago, and for several months we had to couch-surf with our closest friends….

Are you looking for a way to bring volunteering into your child’s school? Consider introducing “Cara Cookie Volunteers” to your child’s teacher.

If your child in is elementary school, introduce the idea of volunteering to the students by reading “Cara Cookie Volunteers” to the classroom.

“Cara Cookie Volunteers” tells the true story of the first time the Beckers volunteered together as a family. It chronicles the joys and importance of giving back, as well as overcoming the uncertainty and fears that may arise in young children in new situations….

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Sabina, a 17-year-old who hosts a STEM summer camp for elementary and middle school aged girls in her community. 

1. How did you become involved with Girl Science?

I always loved science and math. When I entered high school, I noticed there were very few girls in my advanced science and math classes….

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Sophie, a 15-year-old inspired to fight childhood hunger and educate low-income preschool kids on the benefits of healthy eating.

1. What inspired you to start this project?…

When touring some of our local food banks, I discovered there were limited healthy and fresh produce options available. Seeing the benefits and the impact of one garden in my backyard, I reached out to area low-income pre-schools and offered to build raised garden beds, plant, maintain, and donate gardening tools and seedlings to the schools.

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about Marguerite, 13, who started Bag Up the Love, which provides a duffle bag full of toiletries and supplies to kids entering foster care.

1. How did you become involved with Bag Up the Love?

What really inspired me to start Bag Up The Love was a family trip to Roaton, Honduras. The schools there were asking for backpacks full of supplies, which gave me the idea to start something similar closer to home….

The Karma for Cara Excellence in Nursing Award was created to honor and recognize the love, support, and compassion nurses give and the sacrifices they make on behalf of their patients. On January 7, 2015, we honored Sue Ramzy at the UMMC Shock Trauma Center.

1. What inspired you to become a nurse?

I was inspired by my Mom who is a nurse. Growing up, some of my earliest childhood memories were watching Mom get ready for work….

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Hannah a 17-year-old who volunteers with Wake up Walton. This May, Wake up Walton recruited 350 volunteers to work at the homes of senior citizens by painting, planting flowers, cleaning up yards and gardens. 

1. How did you become involved with Wake up Walton?

Wake up Walton was a project that was started in my high school….

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under to better their communities. Read about S.T.A.N: Students Taking Action Now. S.T.A.N. consists of 34 high school students who teach anti-bullying lessons to elementary school students. 

1. How did you become involved with S.T.A.N.?       

Seymour High School Student Leadership students six years ago decided they wanted to work on bullying and character development in our elementary schools. They created S.T.A.N. (Students Taking Action Now), and it continues with more student leaders than ever, as students choose it as an elective course….

The Karma for Cara Excellence in Nursing Award was created to honor and recognize the love, support, and compassion nurses give and the sacrifices they make on behalf of their patients. On January 7, 2015, we honored Harold Hardinger at the UMMC Shock Trauma Center.

1. What inspired you to become a nurse?

I was inspired to become a nurse after serving in the Navy as a hospital corpsman. The experience in the service gave me a background to build on….

Summer is in full swing, and Karma for Cara is here to help you plan your summer fun.

Gather a group of friends and head to the Skokie Theatre this weekend through July 25 for a performance of “JOIN THE CLUB!” When you purchase a ticket using the code KC, a portion of the proceeds goes to Karma for Cara.

Fun, entertainment and giving back—what’s not to love?

“JOIN THE CLUB! takes a good-humored look at what happens when a hotshot young lawyer is forced to join the local women’s club, and struggles to learn to appreciate the importance of female friendship and community….