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Brianna Zeiberg gave $1,336 to The HSUS,
all of which she raised at her birthday party
in lieu of traditional gifts. |
by Kristen Everett
Seven-year-old Brianna Zeiberg didn't need 32 gifts for her birthday, which is why the Westport, Conn. youth asked her party guests to show up with donations for needy animals instead.
Brianna's fundraising goal was originally $750, but her friends quickly helped her surpass that amount. When the party was over, the birthday girl ended up with $1,336. She donated all of it to The Humane Society of the United States.
In return for their kind contributions, her guests got a true philanthropic birthday party experience: They visited their local animal shelter, watched "Underdog" and wore dog tags. Brianna's guests left the party with doggie bags and issues of "KIND News" from The Humane Society of the United States.
An Idea From Oprah
Brianna got the idea for her birthday party from watching an April episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" about puppy mills, where The HSUS' President and CEO Wayne Pacelle was a guest.
Brianna, who has three pets, said she did it "because I love animals, and I love my pets, and I am kind of sad when I see them in cages."
She has a dog named Forrest and two tabby cats named Josie and Noah.
Above and Beyond
Brianna's mom, Charlene, said her daughter did not need 32 gifts.
"She's very fortunate. She has everything a girl could want," Charlene said. "We wanted to teach her about charity. I thought she should do something good that she cares about." she said.
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| Brianna Zeiberg |
Future Fun
Brianna is in charge of feeding the family pets every day and says she wants to work with animals when she grows up.
"Josie comes in my bed and cuddles with me before I go night-night," she said.
After the party, "I felt really happy for myself," Brianna said. For her birthday next year, she said she's going to have a sleepover, and of course, invite her pets.
"I'm going to make a little bed for them."
'Little Gives'
Speaking about the new show, "Oprah's Big Give," mom Charlene says she thinks "little gives" make a difference, too.
"Kids can do 'little gives,' and each of these little gives all turn into big ones ... I just think you could be teaching your child a bigger lesson."
The HSUS reaches about 1 million elementary school students (in 35,000 elementary school classrooms) with its KIND News publication each year. The HSUS' Humane Society Youth engagement program reaches about 3,000 children a year.
In about a year's time, The HSUS receives about 1,000 correspondences from children. These include a range of inquiries from school project questions, requests for stickers to promote Mission: Humane youth engagement program, to letters letting us know they want to help.
With big-hearted individuals like Brianna in tow, the future of animal protection is bright.
Kristen Everett is public relations manager for The HSUS.
