Frankie was their “Sparrow.” He didn’t live verylong, but he had a lasting impact on their lives.
Community 101 is a philanthropy program funded by the Portland General Electric Foundation. The Forest Grove accounting students were given $5,000 to distribute to five worthy non-profit organizations.
But, in addition, they wanted to adopt a “Sparrow” – a child suffering from severe physical problems whose family was in dire financial need. The students were having trouble getting the project started when a couple of them attended a Sparrow Club luncheon in Salem with legislators.
“That kicked us in the butt,” said club member Angie Evans. “We asked ourselves, ‘Are we going to get a Sparrow or not?’ “Kunkel said the luncheon was a turning point. “Hearing how others are motivated to support this organization was a definite plus for them,” he said.
Despite the late start, the students embraced the task. Although they could have used some of their PGE money to fund Frankie, they chose to do it all themselves.
“We raised all of our funds,” Evans said. “None of it came from grants.”
There were benefit concerts and dances, bracelet sales and a remarkable amount of donations from students. Finally, there was the “adoption” – an all-school assembly attended by Frankie and his family.
“What gave the school ownership was the public adoption,” Kunkel said
“Everyone gave Frankie a standing ovation,” said Ander Echanove, student body president. On the night of the school prom, four students went to visit Frankie. Wearing their prom finest, they saw him at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
“That meant so much to his family when the kids from the prom visited,” said club member Mayra Barrazu. Just a few days later, Frankie died. Even that didn’t stop the students from helping.
“When we heard that Frankie died, we thought, ‘We were not giving up, we were not going to stop fundraising,’ ” Evans said. “We went to each class and got $400 in coffee cans.”
In all, the Sparrow Club raised nearly $4,000 for Frankie’s family. The students paid all of his funeral expenses and gave the family four shopping carts full of food. “I saw the looks on their faces when we brought in the food and it was priceless,” Barrazu said. “They seemed full of emotion. I think so many things were going through their heads.”
And, the students said, they and their classmates got a lot in return. Frankie brought a tremendous sense of charity and togetherness, not only to Kunkel’s accounting class students but to the entire school.
“We worked so hard on the fundraising,” said Edwin Castro. “It had great impact when Frankie passed away.”
The news of Frankie’s death came just before they could take him on an all-day trip to the zoo. It was such a shock that the members of Community 101 and the Sparrow Club could not bring themselves to talk about it for several weeks.
“Frankie really impacted the school,” said Evans. “He got people out of their self-centered bubble.”
“We really saw everyone come together on this,” Echanove said. “All 1,700 students.” Frankie’s effect is sure to be felt throughout the years. “I will definitely do more community service,” Echanove said. “I’ve seen how great an experience it can be.”
“It was a life-changing thing,” Evans said. “It made me realize how much I have and how much I take for granted.”
Kunkel predicts that Frankie’s legacy will live on at the high school. He believes the community service aspect is a big reason the class is expected to increase to four double blocks and about 120 students.
“Community 101 is an integral part of what I do here,” Kunkel said. “All of these pieces fit within the confines of business. It’s a really great opportunity to introduce the nonprofit piece.”
Some of Kunkel’s students go further.
“It’s what makes the class,” Barrazu said. “It’s what makes you want to come.”