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CNN Live Saturday
Foster Kid Hero
Aired December 20, 2003 - 18:49 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, if you are a sucker for a heart warning story grab your hanky and pull your chair a little bit closer. This one is just about as good as it gets. CNN's Michael McManus has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw that one.
MICHAEL MCMANUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For most teenage girls, playing with stuffed animals is a thing of the past.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, he is cute.
MCMANUS: For 13-year-old McKenzie Snyder, it is still a huge part of her life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is a lot of stuffed animals.
MCMANUS: Six years ago, Snyder started Children to Children after meeting two foster kids and learning they often had to use cheap plastic bags when they moved from house to house.
MCKENZIE SNYDER, CHILDREN TO CHILDREN: The government, they weren't' giving social workers enough money to pay for duffle bags. So all they got to give them was like a trash bag.
MCMANUS: Because of this, McKenzie's mission was to begin giving duffle bags to the nation's half million foster kids.
SNYDER: They have a book ready.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
MCMANUS: Included is a stuffed animal, and inspirational book and a letter containing a supportive piece of advice.
SNYDER: I want you to always know that your lived, especially by me. And always remember to be positive, polite and never give up. Love you, from McKenzie Snyder.
MCMANUS: At first, her mom drove McKenzie from yard sale to yard sale, searching for duffle bags and old suit cases.
(on camera): Then she began her own collection drive. As interest grew and word got out about her cause donations like these poured in. And then, corporations began getting involved.
MCMANUS (voice-over): Companies like Home Depot, which donated supplies, and Freddie Mac which has given thousands of dollars to McKenzie's cause.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her dream of helping these kids and her vision is made possible, and she will tell you this, from all the people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody jumping aboard to help.
SNYDER: I've helped over 32,000 foster kids. And I am hoping all the 530,000 foster kids in the whole United States.
MCMANUS: A one-time thought that has since given much-needed support to 32,000 foster kids and counting.
Michael McManus, CNN, Bowie, Maryland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 20, 2003 - 18:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, if you are a sucker for a heart warning story grab your hanky and pull your chair a little bit closer. This one is just about as good as it gets. CNN's Michael McManus has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw that one.
MICHAEL MCMANUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For most teenage girls, playing with stuffed animals is a thing of the past.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, he is cute.
MCMANUS: For 13-year-old McKenzie Snyder, it is still a huge part of her life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is a lot of stuffed animals.
MCMANUS: Six years ago, Snyder started Children to Children after meeting two foster kids and learning they often had to use cheap plastic bags when they moved from house to house.
MCKENZIE SNYDER, CHILDREN TO CHILDREN: The government, they weren't' giving social workers enough money to pay for duffle bags. So all they got to give them was like a trash bag.
MCMANUS: Because of this, McKenzie's mission was to begin giving duffle bags to the nation's half million foster kids.
SNYDER: They have a book ready.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
MCMANUS: Included is a stuffed animal, and inspirational book and a letter containing a supportive piece of advice.
SNYDER: I want you to always know that your lived, especially by me. And always remember to be positive, polite and never give up. Love you, from McKenzie Snyder.
MCMANUS: At first, her mom drove McKenzie from yard sale to yard sale, searching for duffle bags and old suit cases.
(on camera): Then she began her own collection drive. As interest grew and word got out about her cause donations like these poured in. And then, corporations began getting involved.
MCMANUS (voice-over): Companies like Home Depot, which donated supplies, and Freddie Mac which has given thousands of dollars to McKenzie's cause.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her dream of helping these kids and her vision is made possible, and she will tell you this, from all the people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody jumping aboard to help.
SNYDER: I've helped over 32,000 foster kids. And I am hoping all the 530,000 foster kids in the whole United States.
MCMANUS: A one-time thought that has since given much-needed support to 32,000 foster kids and counting.
Michael McManus, CNN, Bowie, Maryland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
