DV Journal

The Delaware Valley Journal is pleased to announce the winner of our Santa’s Biggest Lil’ Helper Contest: Margot Johnson and Cackie Martin.

The two Radnor High School students founded a club for the Travis Manion Foundation at their school.

The Bucks County-based Travis Manion Foundation, which helps veterans and families of the fallen with leadership programs, will receive a $1,000 donation from DVJournal on behalf of the two volunteers.

After learning they had won the DVJ’s contest, Margot, 15, and Cackie, 17, issued this statement:

“We’re grateful to the Delaware Valley Journal for its $1,000 contribution to Travis Manion Foundation.  Since its inception, Radnor’s TMF chapter has been involved in laying wreaths and raising funds for Wreaths Across America for our veterans at Calvary Cemetery and the collection of essential goods for the Afghan Resettlement effort in our area.

“We’re looking forward to working to develop meaningful connections between Radnor High School students and veterans and their families in our community. DVJ’s contribution will help in our mission to build a community that empowers veterans to pass their leadership and values to the next generation,” the volunteers said.

According to its website, the inspiration for the foundation comes from its namesake, 1stLt Travis Manion, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and died in 2007 in Iraq while protecting the other members of his patrol.

Travis Manion’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

The “TMF carries on the legacy of selfless service and leadership embodied by Travis and all those who have served, or continue to serve, our nation,” the website said.

Ryan Manion, president of the Travis Manion Foundation told DVJournal the effort by these Radnor students is an example to others.

“Margot and Cackie are amazing young women whose drive and initiative serve as a powerful example of how to live with character by putting the interests of others before oneself,” Manion said. “Their commitment to service truly demonstrates what it means to live the ‘If Not Me, Then Who…’ ethos and they are challenging their peers to do the same.

“We are very proud of their efforts and look forward to supporting the Travis Manion Foundation Club at Radnor High School as it continues to expand and leave a lasting impact on our community,” Manion said.

Thank you from DVJournal to all of our other Santa’s Biggest Lil’ Helper entrants. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

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The Holly Jolly Express is a group of Kutz Elementary teachers who carol in a decorated school bus to popular bus stops throughout their school district. While singing to spread festive spirit in the community, the primary purpose is to collect donations for A Woman’s Place, a domestic violence center in Doylestown. It is one of the most anticipated events of the year for the entire school community, with students joining in on the fun. This year, local fire trucks, police officers, and Roxy Reader dogs (a charitable nonprofit therapy dog organization) joined the fun!

At Delaware Valley Journal, we’re looking for more kids (18 and younger) like kids at Kutz Elementary School who are volunteering with charities, church groups, Scout troops, etc. — or just putting the Christmas spirit into action all on their own! Send us a photo of your favorite Santa’s helper in action, and information about the charity they’re supporting, and you might just see it featured at DVJournal.

PLUS: We’ll pick one of the highlighted charities and make our own $1,000 donation to the cause!

Just send your photo (with names and ages) of the kids you spot helping others — ringing the Salvation Army bell, collecting for Toys for Tots, working at a local food bank, whatever! — and email it to [email protected].

If possible, please include a link to the charity’s website, too, so we can encourage others to support the cause.

Margot Johnson, a sophomore at Radnor High School, helped start a chapter of the Travis Manion Foundation at Radnor High School, on Veterans Day. She designed the flyer that was distributed at her club table. She has approximately 80 kids who have expressed interest in participating. She is currently collecting basic clothing and household items to help TMF provide for Afghan families who are resettling in the Philadelphia area.

At Delaware Valley Journal, we’re looking for more kids (18 and younger) like Margot who are volunteering with charities, church groups, Scout troops, etc. — or just putting the Christmas spirit into action all on their own! Send us a photo of your favorite Santa’s helper in action, and information about the charity they’re supporting, and you might just see it featured at DVJournal.

PLUS: We’ll pick one of the highlighted charities and make our own $1,000 donation to the cause!

Just send your photo (with names and ages) of the kids you spot helping others — ringing the Salvation Army bell, collecting for Toys for Tots, working at a local food bank, whatever! — and email it to [email protected].

If possible, please include a link to the charity’s website, too, so we can encourage others to support the cause.

Avi Selber, 7,  took part in the Emily’s Entourage drive-through gala, (their answer to COVID concerns). This was the moment we hit $10 million in funds raised over 10 years! He was all bundled up and wouldn’t raise the glow sticks until that moment hit. Avi sets aside 10 percent of his allowance and birthday money for charity and he gave $8, contributing to a total of almost $1 million this year alone.

EE is a research foundation, they grant out funds to scientists who are looking for treatments and cures to cystic fibrosis, specifically the 10 percent of rare mutations (like Emily) for whom there is nothing, although 90 percent of the CF community has a treatment which makes CF a chronic illness instead of a fatal one.

Avi Selber

At Delaware Valley Journal, we’re looking for more kids (18 and younger) like Avi, of Bala Cynwyd, who are volunteering with charities, church groups, Scout troops, etc. — or just putting the Christmas spirit into action all on their own! Send us a photo of your favorite Santa’s helper in action, and information about the charity they’re supporting, and you might just see it featured at DVJournal.

PLUS: We’ll pick one of the highlighted charities and make our own $1,000 donation to the cause!

Just send your photo (with names and ages) of the kids you spot helping others — ringing the Salvation Army bell, collecting for Toys for Tots, working at a local food bank, whatever! — and email it to [email protected].

If possible, please include a link to the charity’s website, too, so we can encourage others to support the cause.

Who says you need elves to make Santa’s Christmas toys? At one local high school, the elves got their tools off the shelf and got to work for local kids.

Members of two Manufacturing and Engineering Technology classes taught by Nicholas Pompei at Hatboro-Horsham built games for Toys for Tots. The first period made nine sets of ring toss games and the second-period class made 15 ring toss games.

At Delaware Valley Journal, we’re looking for more kids (18 and younger) like these Hatboro-Horsham students who are volunteering with charities, church groups, Scout troops, etc. — or just putting the Christmas spirit into action all on their own! Send us a photo of your favorite Santa’s helper in action, and information about the charity they’re supporting, and you might just see it featured at DVJournal.

PLUS: We’ll pick one of the highlighted charities and make our own $1,000 donation to the cause!

Just send your photo (with names and ages) of the kids you spot helping others — ringing the Salvation Army bell, collecting for Toys for Tots, working at a local food bank, whatever! — and email it to [email protected].

If possible, please include a link to the charity’s website, too, so we can encourage others to support the cause.