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Teen sees need, thankful he can help by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Steven Clarke Jr. is a typical high school junior in today’s world; preparing college applications, attending a youth group at his church, hanging out with friends, and working at a small restaurant on the Isle of Palms, in addition to his job with Beachside Real Estate in marketing and advertising.   Steven Clarke Jr., left, Helping Hurting Kids with Fun founder, delivers his first set of checks to the MUSC Pediatric Oncology/Hematology clinic to John Sanders, Children's Hospital adminstrator. What’s atypical about this young man, however, is his willingness to give up the tips he makes working at Budiroes for the sake of pediatric oncology/hematology patients at MUSC.   “It feels great to know that something small can help so immensely,” Clarke said. “I guess I just saw the need and am thankful that I’m able to help.”   “He really is a deeply religious fellow and he always says that he believes one voice really can make a difference,” said his mother, Marie Simons, an MUSC administrative services coordinator. “I have worked in the Central Scheduling Office at MUSC for the past 14 years and he would hear stories from me about the children and how brave they were for going through their trials with such dignity and integrity. During the Camp Happy Days camps, the children told him that it took so long to receive their chemo, how bored they were, and how they wished they had movies to watch. That is how he came up with replacing the existing televisions they have now with TV/DVD combos.”   When Clarke was unable to continue working as an expediter in Budiroes’ kitchen once school started, he and the manager decided he could conduct a trivia night to liven things up. During the hour-and-a-half that Clarke asked questions and helped create an entertaining atmosphere, he would receive tips from patrons. Remembering the children undergoing hours of chemotherapy, Clarke decided to donate all of his tip money to MUSC. What began as a personal endeavor ballooned into a community one- students from Clarke’s Wando High School and restaurant regulars offered donations and came out in droves to support Clark and his effort.   Clarke’s initiative was officially realized May 11 when he formed the Helping Hurting Kids with Fun foundation and gave MUSC its first two checks, one for $1,000 and another for $300. An anonymous donor recently contributed another $1,000 for use at the clinic, and Clarke presented that check on May 24.   “One of the large checks is going towards buying new TVs and DVD players for the entire clinic, including some that will roll on carts so the children who must be quarantined for treatment can have access to the new stuff as well,” he said. “We also donated some reference book sets for parents whose children are in the clinic. The smaller check will become a monthly donation that will be solely for ‘coming off chemo’ parties. Getting through this kind of treatment is a big deal and we want to celebrate that.”   In addition to the monthly donation and continued book sets for parents, Clarke also secured Everyday Gourmet catering company to bake and deliver cakes for the parties any time the clinic needs one, and absolutely free.   Clarke’s philanthropy goes back to his early years. “Steven was in summer day camp at Sullivan’s Island Day Care at the age of seven and he organized a weekly car wash for the entire summer and had the daycare donate the money to the Jenkins Orphanage for school supplies,” Simons said.  “He volunteers every summer at Camp Happy Days in North Carolina for a week. He spent two weeks last summer in the Bahamas with his youth group and they went to several different orphanages and painted them and donated supplies. He also helped sponsor a week of ‘Kid Fun’ for the children at the Crisis Ministry the last four summers. All the volunteers take the children to different places, like the beach, the Ice Palace, roller skating, and the movies. They also have an arts and crafts session and lunch is provided each day.”    “Steven is an amazing young man with a heart of gold,” said John Sanders, MUSC Children’s Hospital administrator. “His contributions have gone a long way to make the children in our hospital and clinics feel more comfortable. I hope when he finishes college he will look our way for a career in fundraising.”   A creative way of raising money for the small things that make a huge difference, Clarke’s trivia nights will continue during the summer when he goes to college, not only due to the noble cause it supports, but because it’s fun too.   Friday, May 27, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. 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