Today, Kids Are Heroes

I’m fond of writing about kids who do awesome, charitable things. So I’m particularly pleased to announce that today is Kids Are Heroes Day, at least in Maryland.

The event at the Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, Md., is organized by a little organization called Kids Are Heroes, founded by a girl named MaryMargaret and her father, Gabe O’Neill in March 2008, reports the Frederick News Post.

Awesome kids from around the nation will take part in the event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, sharing with the audience news of what they have done to help worthy causes around the world. Some of those stories will be surprisingly impressive. For instance:

MaryMargaret O'Neill, 10, of Ijamsville, Md., and the co-founder of Kids Are Heroes, is gathering donations toward the purchase of 150 MP3 music players for Washington, DC’s Children's Hospital.Kayleigh Crimmins, 6, of San Diego, Calif., raised money for ballistic vests to protect K-9 police dogs.Evan Frank, 7, of Jefferson, W.Va., has raised close to enough to drill his second well in Africa, a project with a price tag of $4,800.

In a ceremony at 1 p.m., the kids will describe their projects, raise donations for their efforts, receive awards and enjoy entertainment, including a balloon artist, face painting and a concert by the Oakdale Singing Owls, a chorus group from nearby Oakdale Elementary School. Image courtesy of Kids Are Heroes