PROJECT EMPATHY
At just 10 years old, Chase Hansen, a fifth-grader at Draper Elementary, is already the citizen of the year. With his focus on humanitarian service, he’s been finding ways to serve the community around him since he was a toddler. Back then, he thought there were only 20–30 homeless people in our state, but as soon as he saw there were more than 30 people at the Road Home alone, he decided he needed to find a way to help. What better way is there to know how to help someone than to ask? That’s how Project Empathy, a nonprofit organization established by Chase, began. Through the project, Chase takes homeless people to lunch and listens to their situation. His efforts have drawn national attention, including coverage on major national news outlets, and the designation of the City Journals Citizen of the Year. Congratulations Chase, you are doing a lot of good in the world. — CANYONS SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROJECT EMPATHY
Chase and his dad had noticed the homeless population in their area and wanted to do something to help. How can we help? Well, ask them, his dad responded. This was the first spark, the lightbulb, the brisk wind under his tiny cape that inspired Chase and his dad to begin their quest of becoming humble vigilantes on a mission. The Hansen men didn’t just want to hand out sandwiches or donate money or canned food. They wanted to find a sustainable solution to the problem, not just bandaid. Thus, Project Empathy was born.
The approach was simple; sit down person-to-person over a simple meal and listen. Tap into the mindset of an innocent child and listen without judgment and with only curiosity. It was asking what they said they need. As it turns out, what most of them needed was a person to listen to them and connect with. To sit down with over 130 homeless individuals person-to-person over a meal, and ask them what they need. They discovered in the end, a free meal is always great, but having someone to listen to them and hear them was immeasurable.
Chase and his dad have just begun their journey, as they made very clear. It’s not for glory or news headlines but the future of their community and the improvement of the lives of those most-at-risk. Chase is now 10-years-old and has no plans of slowing down any time soon. His pure motivation and desire to make the world a better place will no doubt make a lasting impact on the world. Chase hopes to grow Project Empathy even more in the future and end homelessness in their city. Kids like Chase have the power to create real change in the world with the right encouragement, environment, and little bit of superhero magic.
It’s clear that Chase and his dad don’t do this for the headlines or the awards or glory. They saw a problem that they knew they could solve, even if it was one person at a time out of thousands. They’ve collected data and researched and talked to hundreds of people with a simple mission to serve and foster the community. It’s not as easy as putting on gloves and handing out sandwiches but it is as simple as sitting down with a person in need and listening. — NUGENT MAGAZINE
OUR WHY
We believe the expressed needs and ideas of the homeless and recovery community will be of interest to not only the amazing citizens of Utah, but to the decision makers and leaders seeking to solve social challenges in an innovative manner. The homeless and those in recovery are in fact important subject-matter experts, with amazing idea.
We want to discover their needs, to lift their spirits, to discover their passions and dreams, and to give them a voice in the process to come. We believe that listeners will become engaged in unique, creative solutions and will invest in the journey of others while becoming informed to the realities of the challenges we face in our community and across our great nation.
For the last 4 years, Chase has been conducting research missions into the community, gathering ideas through interviews with members of the community that suffer and learning from community advocates, meeting with influencers and leaders and experimenting with ways to foster connection and seed friendships.
To gather support Chase met with his Mayor, Troy Walker of Draper, Mayor Jenny Wilson (Salt Lake County), Rep Ben McAdams (U.S. House of Representative), as well as the Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox, all very amazing leaders invested in solving the homeless crisis, hungry for new ideas and ways to elevate all Utahns through putting boots on the ground in a impactful manner around connection and to develop data.
Being present, connecting, hearing about each other’s life, will have a positive impact on all involved. In this way we, as a community can develop meaningful relationships that are authentic, develop trust and move forward together.
We have been entirely self funded for the last 4 years and are looking for support through this fundraiser, sponsorships and strategic partnerships to take our effort to the next level.
John and Chase Hansen
Project Empathy
http://bit.ly/Project_Empathy
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectEmpathyL3C
For a Tax Deductible 501 c3 contribution, please contact us via email: [email redacted]
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others. - Marianne Williamson
MEDIA STORIES
JANUARY 9, 2020 | WASHINGTON POST
A BOY ASKED HIS DAD TO HELP THE HOMELESS. NOW FATHER AND SON TAKE THEM TO LUNCH EACH WEEK
DECEMBER 29, 2019 | ABC15 ARIZONA
ON A MISSION
DECEMBER 29, 2019 | AZFAMILY 3TV CBS5
UTAH BOY BRINGS PROJECT EMPATHY TO PHOENIX HOMELESS COMMUNITY
DECEMBER 29, 2019 | THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
MEET THE FATHER-SON DUO OUT TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS WITH EMPATHY AND CONNECTION
OCTOBER 24, 2019 | DRAPER JOURNAL
DRAPER FATHER-SON DUO CONTINUE TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS WITH EMPATHY
AUGUST 7, 2019 | THE BRIGHT SPOT : HLN NEWS
A TEN-YEAR-OLD IS TACKLING THE HOMELESS EPIDEMIC HEAD ON BY CHANGING THE CONVERSATION AROUND HOW BEST TO HELP THOSE LIVING ON THE STREETS
APRIL 25, 2019 | KTVX — ABC 4
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF UTAH HONORS LOCAL HEROES
FEBUARY 17, 2019 | KTVX — ABC 4
UTAH BOY HELPING LIFT THE HOMELESS THROUGH EMPATHY
JANUARY 15, 2019 | KTVX — ABC 4
A SUPERHERO FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
JANUARY 6, 2019 | BRUT / FATHERLY
FATHER-SON DUO HELP HOMELESS
OCTOBER 10, 2018 | DESERET NEWS
THE GIFT OF SLEEP: SALT LAKE EMERGENCY SHELTER RECEIVES NEW MATTRESSES
SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 | NOW THIS
THIS 9-YEAR-OLD IS DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS TO HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
AUGUST 15, 2018 | DESERET NEWS | MORMON TIMES / LDS LIVING
THE 9-YEAR-OLD CEO AND LATTER-DAY SAINT WHO DEDICATED HIS TIME TO SERVING OTHERS
AUGUST 6, 2018 | KSTU — FOX 13
‘PROJECT EMPATHY’ WORKS TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS WITH HUMANITY, PERSONAL TOUCH
AUGUST 1, 2018 | DRAPER JOURNAL
EMPATHY IS THE KEY TO SOLVING HOMELESSNESS FOR KID LABS DUO
JULY 28, 2018 | KTVX —ABC 4
MEET 9 YEAR OLD CHASE: A HERO AND HUMANITARIAN
JULY 26, 2018 | KUTV — CBS 2
9 YEAR OLD UTAH BOY AWARDED FOR SERVING HOMELESS COMMUNITY
DECEMBER 24, 2017 | DAILY HERALD
3RD GRADER HOPES TO HELP THE HOMELESS THROUGH KID LABS 
The first step to take is to become aware that love is an art, just as living is an art; if we want to learn how to love we must proceed in the same way we have to proceed if we want to learn any other art, say music, painting, carpentry, or the art of medicine or engineering. What are the necessary steps in learning any art? The process of learning an art can be divided conveniently into two parts: one, the mastery of the theory; the other, the mastery of the practice. - Erich Fromm