Carmel High School senior Danielle Rothchild recently received a Disney Be Inspired Grant, which is designed to encourage kids to make a difference in their communities by completing service work.
Rothchild is the driving force behind Danielle Cares for Chairs, a nonprofit dedicated to collecting bread tags and using funds collected by recycling them to provide wheelchairs to those in need.
“Disney partners with Youth Service of America. They pick kids who have an exceptional amount of service,” Rothchild said. “They really liked my Danielle Cares for Chairs idea. I was contacted by them a month ago and they gave me $500.”
Disney’s guidelines on spending the money require that she host an even to promote giving back in the community. She will do just that from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 14 in the Carmel High School cafeteria.
“I will be giving out a power car adapted to a 4-year-old girl who has spinal muscular atrophy,” Rothchild said.
Rothchild is working in conjunction with the Pike High School Robotics Club.
“They adapted this power chair to this little girl’s needs. I’m also going to be showering her with presents because it’s after the holidays,” Rothchild said.
Rothchild has collected more than 1.8 million bread tags since August 2016.
“Usually, I recycle the bread tags, but since every time I want to recycle them, more opportunity comes,” Rothchild said. “Right now I’m focused on showing kids what exponential growth looks like, and you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”
The event is free and open to the public. For more, visit daniellecaresforch.wixsite.com/daniellecareforchair.
