In the front row from left are Emma Young and Jaclynn Worrell. Back row: Wawasee Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Troyer, Wawasee High School Principal Geoff Walmer and Riley Children’s Foundation Officer Susan Miles. Photo provided by Emily Worrell.

News Release

SYRACUSE — Wawasee High School juniors Emma Young and Jaclynn Worrell are two young philanthropists continuing the Kehoe Kid Project.

They started the project when they were fourth-grade students and ever since have provided tens of thousands of books for kids admitted to Riley Children’s Hospital on a cart that travels room to room. They have also sponsored literacy weeks and provide sunshine baskets for local students who have found themselves at Riley.

Young and Worrell were recently presented with a Riley Children’s Hospital wagon license plate by Susan Miles, an officer at Riley Children’s Foundation.

“This group is different. We all still remember when they came to Indianapolis as 9-year-olds. They are the only group to do something like this more than once, let alone for eight years.”

This is mostly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but something the girls have had the privilege of accomplishing twice in their work with Riley through the Kehoe Kid Project.

The project came to fruition in 2016. The three classes of fourth-grade students at Milford Elementary School wanted to spread kindness and smiles to Riley Children’s Hospital patients through books in honor of teacher and local resident Diane Kehoe. The first year, the group of students took a box truck load of books and thousands of dollars to Riley. As the years have gone by, the students have grown and found new interests, but have remained strong, working hard to make sure this legacy project continues.

The girls have kicked off their fundraising efforts for the year. Not only are they full-time students, athletes and teenagers, they are also working hard behind the scenes to bring their fundraising efforts in person for the first time since COVID.

The public will find their silent auction from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at North Webster Community Center during the county’s Kids Business Fair.

To sponsor the event or donate, email [email protected].