Meet Your Neighbor

Gracie Klupper

May 14, 2007

Second grade student at Royal Oaks Elementary
For recent birthday, collected books for Schools of Hope Project

The joy of Gracie Klupper's eighth birthday will spread far beyond the group of friends who attended her recent party.

That's because instead of presents, this smiling second-grader asked attendees to donate books to the Schools of Hope Project, which strives to eliminate the racial achievement gap in fourth grade reading scores.

Gracie's friends came through with 48 children's publications, which will help students at various levels improve their reading skills. The books, when stacked flat, reach Gracie's knee.

This wasn't the first time Gracie used her birthday to help others, though. Last year, friends who attended her party donated funds to the Make a Wish Foundation. About $275 was raised for this organization, which grants wishes to terminally ill children. The money from Gracie's party helped make a wish come true for a Dane County girl.

When not helping charitable causes, Gracie, a second grader in Mrs. Stenstrup's class at Royal Oaks Elementary, is a typical 8-year-old. She enjoys soccer, piano and dance. It's probably no surprise, either, that her favorite subject in school is reading -- especially books from the Magic Tree House series.

This summer, Gracie will be traveling to South Dakota with her parents, Brian and Natalie, and her 13-year-old sister, Stephie.

Along the way, one would assume, she'll be reading everything in sight ... and probably some good books, too.