Zach Bonner
Encyclopedia
Zachary "Zach" L. Bonner (born November 17, 1997) is an American philanthropist
and founder of the non-profit
charity
Little Red Wagon Foundation
. Bonner received the Presidential Service Award
in 2006.
When he was seven years old, he founded the organization to aid the 1.3 million homeless children in the United States
. Bonner said that, "These kids don't have a home, they don't have a safe place to sleep at night. They're out on the streets not because they want to be, but because it's out of their control."
In 2007, Bonner began his three-stage "My House to the White House" project. The project's purpose was to raise money and awareness for homeless children. In 2007, he walked 280 miles from Tampa
to Tallahassee, Florida
, while in 2008, he covered 250 miles from Tallahassee to Atlanta, Georgia
. In the final leg of the trip, he walked 668 miles from Georgia to Washington D.C. Upon the completion of the "My House to the White House" project, Bonner planned another project, March Across America. From March 23 to September 14, 2010, he walked 2,448 miles from Tampa to Los Angeles
.
since he was six years old. In 2004, when Hurricane Charley
hit neighborhoods, he collected 27 pickup trucks of water in his little red wagon
. He established the Little Red Wagon Foundation
to "continue helping kids more efficiently". Bonner teamed up with the StandUp For Kids
and collected 400 backpack
s of supplies, nicknamed "Zachpacks", for homeless children. The Zachpacks were filled with donated snack
s, toy
s, and toiletries.
Bonner organized Christmas
parties for homeless children living in Baker, Louisiana
, and he gave Christmas presents to Hurricane Katrina
victims.
In April 2007, he organized 24 Hours, an event that simulated being homeless for 24 hours. During that period of time, students in high school
stayed in their own separate boxes for 24 hours.
to Tallahassee, Florida
and raised $25,000. The second leg in the fall of 2008 covered over 250 miles from Tallahassee to Atlanta, Georgia
.
The third leg of the trip began May 11, 2009. The 668-mile, 59-day walk from Georgia to Washington D.C. was completed on July 10. On the final stretch of the walk, 500 people, among them 300 homeless children, walked with Bonner down the National Mall
. Bonner met with Saxby Chambliss
and spoke with several other U.S. Senators on Capitol Hill. He slept at the Sasha Bruce emergency shelter.
. Calling the trip "March Across America", he began the 2,478-mile walk on March 23, 2010. Bonner walked an average of 17–22 miles every day. During his walk, he gave gift card
s to people in need. Lee Cowan
of NBC Nightly News
"Making A Difference" profiled Bonner in early August; Cowan called Bonner a "pint-sized philanthropist". On the show, Bonner said that "When you're having a bad day you (have) to realize that someone else is having a lot worse of a day than you."
Bonner planned to complete the walk by September, after 178 days of walking. On September 14, 2010, Bonner completed the nearly 2,500-mile-walk to Los Angeles.
from President George W. Bush
. In the same year, he was honored with the Points of Light Award by Florida governor Jeb Bush
for his volunteer service. Bonner has met George W. Bush and Bill Clinton
. He has been featured on Good Morning America
.
In 2007, Bonner was named one of 12 "Huggable Heroes" by the Build-A-Bear Workshop
. On March 19, 2008, he received the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award from the Volvo for life Awards, hosted by Volvo
on 42nd Street
. In 2009, the readers and editors of Beliefnet
chose Bonner as the Most Inspiring Person of the Year. Receiving 22% of the vote, Bonner defeated the "hero pilot" Chesley Sullenberger
and students in Iran who protested against a rigged election despite considerable jeopardy to their lives.
Elton John
donated $25,000 to Bonner's cause after Bonner completed the 1,200-mile-walk from Tampa, Florida
, to Washington, D.C.
.
Patrick Sheane Duncan
is the movie's screenwriter, and David Anspaugh
is its director. The John Templeton Foundation
funded the film which was produced by Michael Guillen of Philanthropy Project, Barbara Kelly, and Steve Golin
and David Kanter of Anonymous Content. Little Red Wagon was filmed in May 2010.
on November 17, 1997. He lives in a single-parent household and now resides in Valrico
, Tampa, Florida
with his mother Laurie, sister Kelley, and brother Matt. Bonner's mother is a real estate agent and investor.
Bonner takes classes on the Internet
through the K12 Florida Virtual Instruction Program. The online program allows him to keep up in his studies by outside of the typical school day.
In his free time, Bonner plays little league baseball. He also plays tennis
and goes on bike
rides with his friends. He wishes to go to college
at Harvard University
and attend Yale Law School
, so that he can become a prosecutor
.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
and founder of the non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
Little Red Wagon Foundation
Little Red Wagon Foundation
The Little Red Wagon Foundation is a non-profit charity that raises money and collects supplies for needy children. Founded in 2005 by Zach Bonner, the organization has raised thousands of dollars to build apartments for the needy.-History:...
. Bonner received the Presidential Service Award
Presidential Service Award
The President's Call to Service Award is awarded by the President of the United States to people who have completed more than 4,000 hours of community service. It is the highest level of the President's Volunteer Service Award....
in 2006.
When he was seven years old, he founded the organization to aid the 1.3 million homeless children in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Bonner said that, "These kids don't have a home, they don't have a safe place to sleep at night. They're out on the streets not because they want to be, but because it's out of their control."
In 2007, Bonner began his three-stage "My House to the White House" project. The project's purpose was to raise money and awareness for homeless children. In 2007, he walked 280 miles from Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
to Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, while in 2008, he covered 250 miles from Tallahassee to Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In the final leg of the trip, he walked 668 miles from Georgia to Washington D.C. Upon the completion of the "My House to the White House" project, Bonner planned another project, March Across America. From March 23 to September 14, 2010, he walked 2,448 miles from Tampa to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Philanthropy
Bonner has done a variety of volunteer workVolunteering
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...
since he was six years old. In 2004, when Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
hit neighborhoods, he collected 27 pickup trucks of water in his little red wagon
Toy wagon
A toy wagon has the same structure as the traditional, larger wagon, but is much smaller and has an open top. An average wagon is able to seat one child, and is generally propelled by human power through a handle at the front. Some famous brands are Radio Flyer, Red Rider, Northern Tool and...
. He established the Little Red Wagon Foundation
Little Red Wagon Foundation
The Little Red Wagon Foundation is a non-profit charity that raises money and collects supplies for needy children. Founded in 2005 by Zach Bonner, the organization has raised thousands of dollars to build apartments for the needy.-History:...
to "continue helping kids more efficiently". Bonner teamed up with the StandUp For Kids
StandUp For Kids
StandUp For Kids is a 501 not-for-profit organization founded in 1990. Its mission is to help rescue homeless and at-risk youth in America. StandUp For Kids is run almost entirely by volunteers, and has established more than 35 outreach programs in over 18 states...
and collected 400 backpack
Backpack
A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions...
s of supplies, nicknamed "Zachpacks", for homeless children. The Zachpacks were filled with donated snack
Snack
A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. The food might be snack food—items like potato chips or baby carrots—but could also simply be a smaller amount of any food item.-Snacks and health:...
s, toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s, and toiletries.
Bonner organized Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
parties for homeless children living in Baker, Louisiana
Baker, Louisiana
Baker is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,793 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Baker is located at...
, and he gave Christmas presents to Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
victims.
In April 2007, he organized 24 Hours, an event that simulated being homeless for 24 hours. During that period of time, students in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
stayed in their own separate boxes for 24 hours.
My House to the White House
Zach Bonner's "My House to the White House" project took place in three stages covering 1,225 miles to raise awareness and funds for homeless children. The first leg in 2007 from November 3-26 covered 280 miles from TampaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
to Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
and raised $25,000. The second leg in the fall of 2008 covered over 250 miles from Tallahassee to Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
The third leg of the trip began May 11, 2009. The 668-mile, 59-day walk from Georgia to Washington D.C. was completed on July 10. On the final stretch of the walk, 500 people, among them 300 homeless children, walked with Bonner down the National Mall
National Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
. Bonner met with Saxby Chambliss
Saxby Chambliss
Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative ....
and spoke with several other U.S. Senators on Capitol Hill. He slept at the Sasha Bruce emergency shelter.
March Across America
In 2010, he walked from Tampa to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Calling the trip "March Across America", he began the 2,478-mile walk on March 23, 2010. Bonner walked an average of 17–22 miles every day. During his walk, he gave gift card
Gift card
A gift card is a restricted monetary equivalent or scrip that is issued byretailers or banks to be used as an alternative to a non-monetary gift....
s to people in need. Lee Cowan
Lee Cowan
Lee Cowan is the CBS News National Correspondent for the CBS Evening News and substitute anchor for CBS Sunday Morning.-Biography:Prior to joining NBC News, he was a reporter for CBS News in the CBS NEWSPATH division...
of NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...
"Making A Difference" profiled Bonner in early August; Cowan called Bonner a "pint-sized philanthropist". On the show, Bonner said that "When you're having a bad day you (have) to realize that someone else is having a lot worse of a day than you."
Bonner planned to complete the walk by September, after 178 days of walking. On September 14, 2010, Bonner completed the nearly 2,500-mile-walk to Los Angeles.
Awards and recognition
In 2006, Zach has received the Presidential Service AwardPresidential Service Award
The President's Call to Service Award is awarded by the President of the United States to people who have completed more than 4,000 hours of community service. It is the highest level of the President's Volunteer Service Award....
from President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. In the same year, he was honored with the Points of Light Award by Florida governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
for his volunteer service. Bonner has met George W. Bush and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. He has been featured on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
.
In 2007, Bonner was named one of 12 "Huggable Heroes" by the Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop is an American retailer headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri that sells teddy bears and other stuffed animals. Customers go through an interactive process in which the stuffed animal of their choice is assembled and customized during their visit to the store, and is the...
. On March 19, 2008, he received the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award from the Volvo for life Awards, hosted by Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
on 42nd Street
42nd Street (Manhattan)
42nd Street is a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, known for its theaters, especially near the intersection with Broadway at Times Square. It is also the name of the region of the theater district near that intersection...
. In 2009, the readers and editors of Beliefnet
Beliefnet
Beliefnet is a large multi-faith e-community that aims to provide a free forum for religious information and inspiration, spiritual tools, and discussions and dialogue groups. Beliefnet provides information about various religious and spiritual beliefs, ranging from Christian denominations to...
chose Bonner as the Most Inspiring Person of the Year. Receiving 22% of the vote, Bonner defeated the "hero pilot" Chesley Sullenberger
Chesley Sullenberger
Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III is an American airline transport pilot , safety expert, and accident investigator from Danville, California...
and students in Iran who protested against a rigged election despite considerable jeopardy to their lives.
Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
donated $25,000 to Bonner's cause after Bonner completed the 1,200-mile-walk from Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Philanthropy Project movie
The non-profit organization, Philanthropy Project, started a movie about Zach Bonner and his walks. Michael Guillen, the CEO of Philanthropy Project, plans to make a $5 million movie about the Little Red Wagon Foundation. Bonner's story was selected from among a pool of 6,000 candidates. After the number of candidates was narrowed to 12, Bonner's story was unanimously chosen. Praising Bonner for his philanthropy, Guillen said that "[h]e's sincere. He's humble. He's generous. He's everything that is good about our country. So... when I see Zach, I see the future of our country, and I think we're going to be in good hands." After Bonner was told that Philanthropy Project would create a movie about him, he hung his head and sobbed, replying, "But I'm so small."Patrick Sheane Duncan
Patrick Sheane Duncan
Patrick Sheane Duncan is an American writer, film producer and director.A graduate of Grand Valley State University in Allendale Charter Township, Michigan, Duncan's career has been influenced by his Vietnam War experiences, which inspired the television mini-series Vietnam War Story and its...
is the movie's screenwriter, and David Anspaugh
David Anspaugh
David Anspaugh is an American television and film director.Born in Decatur, Indiana, Anspaugh studied at Indiana University and the USC School of Cinematic Arts, after which he taught high school in Colorado. His work as an associate producer on television movies led to his producing and directing...
is its director. The John Templeton Foundation
John Templeton Foundation
"The John Templeton Foundation is a philanthropic organizationthat funds inter-disciplinary research about human purpose and ultimate reality. It is usually referred to simply as the Templeton Foundation...
funded the film which was produced by Michael Guillen of Philanthropy Project, Barbara Kelly, and Steve Golin
Steve Golin
Steve Golin is the founder and CEO of Anonymous Content LLP, a multimedia development, production and talent management company and co-founder and former CEO of Propaganda Films.-Propaganda Films:...
and David Kanter of Anonymous Content. Little Red Wagon was filmed in May 2010.
Personal life
Zach L. Bonner was born in ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
on November 17, 1997. He lives in a single-parent household and now resides in Valrico
Valrico, Florida
Valrico is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,582 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
with his mother Laurie, sister Kelley, and brother Matt. Bonner's mother is a real estate agent and investor.
Bonner takes classes on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
through the K12 Florida Virtual Instruction Program. The online program allows him to keep up in his studies by outside of the typical school day.
In his free time, Bonner plays little league baseball. He also plays tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and goes on bike
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
rides with his friends. He wishes to go to college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and attend Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, so that he can become a prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
.
External links
- Official website
- Zach Bonner on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...