$7 for Sparrows

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MEDFORD — Braden, Cohen, Maite, Crystal, Kaylena, Ashley, Courtney, Mishele, Daisy and Jazmin.

Matt Sampson, regional director of Sparrow Clubs of Southern Oregon, can rattle the names off the top of his head — probably, he says, because he can't get them off his mind.

The 10 children he named all have life-threatening illnesses, ranging from a severe seizure disorder and cerebral palsy to cancer and a serious heart condition.

Sadly, what they also have in common is that they're waiting to be adopted as "sparrows" in local schools due to a drastic downturn in donations to Sparrow Clubs.

Sampson is hoping a new campaign, "Seven for Southern Oregon Kids" will urge local Sparrow Club supporters to part with $7, or the price of two lattes, to give the Oregon-born charity a boost.

"I've been having a hard time sleeping at night because there are these kids that have been waiting for so many months," he said.

"These are kids that we have adopted into our program and haven't been able to make this happen. There are several kids that if we had sponsors, I could plug them into the program within a week."

Sparrow Clubs, a popular nonprofit organization, has long been known for pairing medically needy children and their families with business sponsors and local schools.

Sixteen clubs are in place.

Sampson hopes the club also will become known for its drive to survive the current economic downturn with a plea to its many supporters, along with some other creative fundraising ideas.

"Everyone knows that things are tough right now, especially for nonprofits. We're trying to inspire a lot of people to do a little, rather than ask fewer people to do a lot," Sampson said.

"In order to help us continue our services to families with sick kids, and schools in our community, we have to find sponsors for these kids."

Sampson said the new "Seven" campaign could make a big difference almost immediately for kids in need.

"It has been said that it only takes around seven seconds for people to decide whether or not something is worth their attention," Sampson said.

"Seven dollars is two lattes "¦ We're finding that even elementary kids can scrounge seven bucks."

In addition to the request for all Sparrow Club supporters to kick in a $7 contribution, he said the organization is offering a new and creative mix of sponsorship opportunities.

Businesses willing to help can contribute half, a third or even a quarter of a $4,060 sponsorship, pairing with other partial sponsors to extend services to waiting children. Sampson said he'll even look at community sponsorships, noting he would combine $7 and other size donations "until they equal a full sponsorship."

Custom home builder Rush Behnke partnered with AnswerPage owner Bill Anderberg to provide sponsorship for Eagle Point Middle School to "adopt" a young boy named Zeb, who suffers from Down's Syndrome.

Behnke said he was excited to be able to help Sparrow Clubs.

On his way to an assembly this week at Jacksonville Elementary, Behnke said, "I was so inspired by being at the last assembly I wanted to try and make it to another one just to hear them talk about what they want to do for these kids. Sparrow Clubs has proven that if you give them the ability to help out, they step up in a big way."

Jane Leonardo, of Leonardo Truck and Equipment, said her Central Point business felt strongly about continuing to help, even in tough times.

"A lot of people are struggling and in need, but if they have their family and their health, it's just a struggle and it is just need," she said.

"If a life threatening illness is affecting one of your family members, you would dream of only having struggles and needs. Suddenly all of your other problems would not exist."

Sampson said he hoped other business owners and community members would consider joining forces and offer partial sponsorships.

"Everybody who knows about Sparrow Clubs knows what we do. I think, normally, most people wouldn't think about giving seven dollars because they think, 'What difference would that make?' " said Sampson.

"But we're saying now that it will make a huge difference if a thousand people do it."

Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at buffypollock@juno.com.

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