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Everyday Hero Gives School Supplies

Aired December 17, 2002 - 10:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's one thing to recognize a problem. Doing something about it, though, is another matter. When Josh Marcus discovered kids at a Florida child care center didn't have basic school supplies, he took action. And he created "Sack It to You." It's an organization that provides backpacks filled with school supplies to disadvantaged kids in south Florida.
And we have 16-year-old Josh joining us from Boynton Beach, Florida, to talk more about the program and a national search for everyday heroes, just like himself.

Josh, good morning, thanks for being with us.

JOSH MARCUS, EVERYDAY HERO: Good morning, thank you for having me.

KAGAN: Take me to that day, that first day, when you went into that child care center and realized that something had to be done.

MARCUS: Well, the first day, it was 6 1/2 years ago. And I was just so excited, I went there with my mom. And I knew that I really wanted to help children. Well, at first, I was like, all right, well, can I work with the kids, be like a teacher assistant. But they said that I was too young, you have to be 16. So I asked the director, I'm like, well, is there anything else that you guys need, because I still really want to help you. And they said they really need backpacks and school supplies. So I thought to myself, and I was, like, you know, hey, maybe can I help you out with that. And...

KAGAN: So you're maybe like 10 years old at the time, right, 10, 11?.

MARCUS: Yes, I was 10. I was 10. It was just at the end of fifth grade.

KAGAN: And most adults wouldn't know what to do. How did you get the program together?

MARCUS: Well, so that's how I got the idea of backpacks and school supplies. Actually, how I got the program together, with the help of my parents, I created a logo and a slogan, "pack for success." I made business cards. And I went around to like every single store that sold backpacks and school supplies looking for donations. And then I raised the money through people either sending me donations, And I raised around $7,000 that first summer. And I fulfilled my promise in giving those kids backpacks and school supplies.

KAGAN: That sounds great. Tell me what it's grown to at this point, Josh?

MARCUS: Well, it went from about 150 kids that first summer to I think I've given around over 9,000 backpacks out currently.

KAGAN: Absolutely amazing. And you're being recognized in this national search, Volvo, the automobile company, looking for everyday heroes out there.

MARCUS: Yes.

KAGAN: And they're actually allowing other people to go on the Internet and nominate other heroes. Do you know about this -- can you tell us a little bit more about this program?

MARCUS: Yes. Definitely. They have a Web site, it's called volvoforlifeawards.com. Starting from about a couple of weeks ago to the end of February, people can go online to the Web site I just said, and they can nominate anyone who they see in their community, whether it's, you know, across their kitchen table to in their workplace, or anyone they see on the street, that's like going above and beyond the call of duty. And then there's -- that is what they like to call the nomination process.

KAGAN: That's great. I just want to let people know that it'll get down to ten winners, then three winners, the three winners will get $50,000 to a charity of their choice. That would be a lot of backpacks. Then one winner, Josh, is going to get a Volvo for life.

MARCUS: Yes, it's very exciting.

KAGAN: At 16, you would cost Volvo a lot of money, I got to tell you, if you win the whole thing. Congratulations on being honored.

MARCUS: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Thanks for letting us know that there's a search for other heroes, and continue the good work. It's great to have you on with us.

MARCUS: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: Josh Marcus, of south Florida, appreciate it.

How about that. What's your excuse? There's the Web site, one more time. Very simple. It's avolvoforlifeawards.com. Do you know a hero? a lot of folks do.

MALE: Josh is going to be the man, if he gets a car.

KAGAN: You know what, he is the man right now, having taken action.

MALE: That's true. He will be the man with wheels. You know what that means. In high school, you are the man with wheels.

KAGAN: I do. MALE: You are the man.

KAGAN: The man. Volvo man.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 17, 2002 - 10:45   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's one thing to recognize a problem. Doing something about it, though, is another matter. When Josh Marcus discovered kids at a Florida child care center didn't have basic school supplies, he took action. And he created "Sack It to You." It's an organization that provides backpacks filled with school supplies to disadvantaged kids in south Florida.
And we have 16-year-old Josh joining us from Boynton Beach, Florida, to talk more about the program and a national search for everyday heroes, just like himself.

Josh, good morning, thanks for being with us.

JOSH MARCUS, EVERYDAY HERO: Good morning, thank you for having me.

KAGAN: Take me to that day, that first day, when you went into that child care center and realized that something had to be done.

MARCUS: Well, the first day, it was 6 1/2 years ago. And I was just so excited, I went there with my mom. And I knew that I really wanted to help children. Well, at first, I was like, all right, well, can I work with the kids, be like a teacher assistant. But they said that I was too young, you have to be 16. So I asked the director, I'm like, well, is there anything else that you guys need, because I still really want to help you. And they said they really need backpacks and school supplies. So I thought to myself, and I was, like, you know, hey, maybe can I help you out with that. And...

KAGAN: So you're maybe like 10 years old at the time, right, 10, 11?.

MARCUS: Yes, I was 10. I was 10. It was just at the end of fifth grade.

KAGAN: And most adults wouldn't know what to do. How did you get the program together?

MARCUS: Well, so that's how I got the idea of backpacks and school supplies. Actually, how I got the program together, with the help of my parents, I created a logo and a slogan, "pack for success." I made business cards. And I went around to like every single store that sold backpacks and school supplies looking for donations. And then I raised the money through people either sending me donations, And I raised around $7,000 that first summer. And I fulfilled my promise in giving those kids backpacks and school supplies.

KAGAN: That sounds great. Tell me what it's grown to at this point, Josh?

MARCUS: Well, it went from about 150 kids that first summer to I think I've given around over 9,000 backpacks out currently.

KAGAN: Absolutely amazing. And you're being recognized in this national search, Volvo, the automobile company, looking for everyday heroes out there.

MARCUS: Yes.

KAGAN: And they're actually allowing other people to go on the Internet and nominate other heroes. Do you know about this -- can you tell us a little bit more about this program?

MARCUS: Yes. Definitely. They have a Web site, it's called volvoforlifeawards.com. Starting from about a couple of weeks ago to the end of February, people can go online to the Web site I just said, and they can nominate anyone who they see in their community, whether it's, you know, across their kitchen table to in their workplace, or anyone they see on the street, that's like going above and beyond the call of duty. And then there's -- that is what they like to call the nomination process.

KAGAN: That's great. I just want to let people know that it'll get down to ten winners, then three winners, the three winners will get $50,000 to a charity of their choice. That would be a lot of backpacks. Then one winner, Josh, is going to get a Volvo for life.

MARCUS: Yes, it's very exciting.

KAGAN: At 16, you would cost Volvo a lot of money, I got to tell you, if you win the whole thing. Congratulations on being honored.

MARCUS: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Thanks for letting us know that there's a search for other heroes, and continue the good work. It's great to have you on with us.

MARCUS: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: Josh Marcus, of south Florida, appreciate it.

How about that. What's your excuse? There's the Web site, one more time. Very simple. It's avolvoforlifeawards.com. Do you know a hero? a lot of folks do.

MALE: Josh is going to be the man, if he gets a car.

KAGAN: You know what, he is the man right now, having taken action.

MALE: That's true. He will be the man with wheels. You know what that means. In high school, you are the man with wheels.

KAGAN: I do. MALE: You are the man.

KAGAN: The man. Volvo man.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com