At the age of 10, Jordan Tarr, a student at Desert Trails Elementary School and a member of Temple Chai, became the proud founder of his own nonprofit organization: Jordan's Jungle.
The goal of the organization is to collect toys and stuffed animals for sick children at Valley hospitals.
Jewish News asked Tarr by e-mail about how and why he started the project, and about his hopes for its future.
Q: Why did you choose to do this project?
A: I chose this project because I really want to help sick kids out. I want to try to put a smile on a sick child's face. That's one of the mottos I have for my charity. I was inspired by a talk about helping others given in my religious school class. I also volunteered at a back-to-school day for kids who couldn't afford what they needed for school. I saw how much they really appreciated receiving donations, and I wanted to keep helping kids.
Q: How old were you when you started the project?
A: I started it when I was 10 years old and hope to continue it for a long time. I didn't start this as a mitzvah project, so I hope it becomes a great charity and lasts a long time.
Q: What steps did you have to take to get the project off the ground?
A: To start, I had to figure out the best places to have a collection drive. And then I had to talk to the people in charge to get permission and plan when and how we would collect. I set up fliers to promote the drive and told everyone I knew about it. The first drives were at Temple Chai and the Valley of the Sun JCC. I was able to donate over 500 items to hospitals from the first drive.
Also, when we collect donations, the animals need to be sorted to make sure they meet hospital regulations. I have walked through the pediatric wing at Scottsdale Healthcare to pass out some of the animals. It's great to see all the smiles that come with making a new friend.
Also, my dad set up a nonprofit company for me, so we can work on collecting money. We can buy a lot more animals that way.
Q: How do you hope your project will affect sick children?
A: I hope to benefit the kids in pediatric wings all over the Phoenix area, to put a smile on lots and lots of faces all throughout the year.
