Stephanie Abston

Stephanie Abston, a ninth grader at Evergreen High School, has raised more than $6,400 over the past five years by making and selling crafts to benefit the local Ronald McDonald Houses.

Stephanie’s desire to make a difference came after she and her friends participated in a fund-raiser at her school and thought it was fun. “We all then made crafts on our own to raise money to donate to the charity we chose,” said Stephanie, who decided to work on behalf of the Ronald McDonald House where her grandmother volunteered.

After the first year, Stephanie’s friends moved on to other activities, but Stephanie remained steadfast. She gives up many weekends to make her crafts and sell them to friends, co-workers of family members, and to the public at open houses and bazaars. The money she has raised helps pay for families of sick children to stay at the Ronald McDonald House and to buy different supplies for them.

During 2006 she has increased her volunteer time with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Oregon and Southwest Washington directly, both at fundraising events and at the House. She volunteers regularly to make cookies and crafts at the House with the children and their families. “I realize that children my age are going through life-threatening illnesses and it makes me think if it was me how I would want people to help and be supportive,” said Stephanie.