Hickory Hills sixth-grader raises over $2,000 with Soccer Saves for Down Syndrome
As a member of Student Council last year, Hickory Hills fifth-grader Emory Riso was assigned a Lunch Buddy. She met her Lunch Buddy, helping her get her lunch in the cafeteria. But the Lunch Buddies soon became friends.
“My kindergartner was Bella, and Bella has Down Syndrome,” said Emory. “She’s amazing. So I thought it would be really cool to start a fundraiser for Down Syndrome and kids like Bella.”
Emory went home and shared her idea of a fundraiser with her mom, Rachel. Rachel Riso reached out to Bella’s mom, Jennifer Johnston, who was excited to collaborate with the Risos to raise money for the Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks. The nonprofit, selected by Emory, had presented to Hickory Hills students at school.
“It was completely Emory’s idea,” said Johnston. “At school, she heard about the organization, and they shared a message that all kids are more alike than different. Just for her to be really taking that message on in this way is so inspiring.”
Emory wanted to raise money for the nonprofit, but she wasn't sure how. She had taken a ceramics class over the summer that she loved. Maybe she could sell pots that she had made on Etsy, she thought. But her mother Rachel had a different idea.
“I said, ‘Let’s find something that you’re really good at and make that your platform,’” said Rachel Riso. “Soccer is her thing; she’s really good at it, and she’s a goalie. So we came up with the idea that people would donate money for every save she made in soccer.”
Emory, now a sixth-grader, plays on a competitive league soccer team -- FC Legacy. She’s made almost 100 saves this season as the team’s goalie, playing games almost every weekend in Kansas City.
And as of Oct. 5, she has raised $2,074 for Soccer Saves for Down Syndrome, her charity she created as a fundraiser.
“I think people are donating because they know I’m young and I’m trying to make a change,” said Emory. “I’m trying to raise more money for the Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks so they can do more things and help the kids with Down Syndrome. I really like helping kids who are different and kids who are in need. I think it’s really cool to do that.”
Emory’s first goal was to raise $1,000, but she raised that before the season even started. So now, she hopes to raise $3,000 before the season ends in November. But even then, she’s thinking about continuing her work. She might raise money to buy toys this holiday season for kids in need with the Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks.
Regardless of how much money she raises, she hopes see her as an example.
“I hope that people learn that everybody’s different, and that you should always help out people who aren’t the same as you, even if you think they’re way too different from you,” she said. “Just love everybody.”