Send us to DI Globals - The Flames

We need your help to send us to Globals!

By taking first place in CA, our Destination Imagination team has earned a spot to compete at the Global Finals in Tennessee this year. It's a week of workshops, classes, and competition with students from 15 countries. 

The average cost per person is $1,300 and we need to take our team of five and our team manager and chaperones.

We only have six weeks to meet our goal and we would really appreciate any support you can offer. If you can not donate but would be willing to share this page with your friends and family, that would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your support,
Alyssa, Jenna, Jolie, Samantha and Parker


Learn more:
The Flames Deliver Hope to the Victims of the CA Wildfires

 “It was perfect timing,” said Parker Ziring. “We were looking for a service project for our D.I. Outreach Project and we just had to look at what was happening in our own backyard.”

What was happening in their backyard was the 3rd worst fire in California history, burning over 76,000 acres of land and destroying entire neighborhoods, schools, businesses and hope.

“The ash and smoke literally darkened the skies of Northern California for weeks,” says Alyssa Schmidt. “It was sad to think about people losing their homes and everything inside.”

So the girls researched and discovered that many agencies had come in to help with the basic needs-water, clothing, etc., but what wasn’t being addressed was helping the children find a bit of normalcy in their fire-ravaged world.

“Their toys and everything they loved were taken away from them,” said Jenna Burd. “And we just wanted to help give them hope and put a smile back onto their faces.”

The girls named their D.I. team “The Flames” to honor the victims of the fires. “A  flame is a light that doesn’t go out, like hope,” says Burd “And our flame is a way to help them to see their way out of the darkness that they are experiencing.”

The Flames, (made up of 11 & 12 year olds Alyssa Schmidt, Parker Ziring, Jenna Burd, Jolie Anderson, and Samantha Cabacungan) brainstormed ideas that could help the kids. During their research they discovered a lady named Candy Alcott who was collecting bikes for kids in Lake County. People were calling her the “Bike Angel” because she was delivering hope on two wheels. Not only were the children receiving bikes, but adults were getting them too. For adults it was not only hope, but also their only means of transportation because many of their vehicles had burned as people had to be evacuated from their homes often in a matter of minutes.

The girls loved the idea so much that they called Ms. Alcott and offered to help, calling themselves the Jr. Bike Angels. “We’re doing all we can to help, this goes beyond D.I.,” says Jolie Anderson.

The girls organized two fundraisers to help the victims of the Valley Fires. First, they partnered with Firehouse Subs and collected over $3000 for fire victims. Next they organized a Bike Collection drive where they collected another $2500 in donations, 106 bikes and 53 helmets. They were interviewed on CBS and Good Day Sacramento and were featured on the Custom Ink website and email blasts for #Inkoftheweek, which highlights groups who are giving back to others.

They used social media to get the word out. By creating a meme and utilizing Facebook to spread the word, they were able to receive 303 “likes” to their page, and 16,000 post reaches all in a 4-week period.

And to see the project through, they personally delivered the donations to the people of Lake County. “Over 400 bikes were given away that day and knowing that the girls personally collected 22% of that total, was truly inspiring,” said team manager, Rebecca Schmidt.

At the bike giveaway day in Lake County, the girls help fit bikes to their new owners, set up the VIP area for dignitaries, and taught kids how to ride their new bikes. “It was a great day,” said Samantha Cabacungan. “Whoever said that it’s better to give than receive, was right. It felt so good to see the smiles on their faces.”

“Never underestimate the power of children helping children. These girls are truly lighting the way and making a difference,” said Candy Alcott.

To learn more about the Jr. Bike Angels, like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Jr-Bike-Angels.