Date: August 3, 2007 
News: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
Contact: Nona Gandelman
Phone: (703) 682-9220
Email: ngandelman@janegoodall.org

Brandon Smith loves animals, watches the Animal Planet channel regularly and was devastated when Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter" died in 2006.

"He was very sad," said Brandon's mom, Jennifer. "He decided he needed to take action to help animals now that Steve Irwin is gone."

Through the Roots & Shoots website, Brandon learned about the Tchimpounga Youth Campaign to help build a new dormitory for orphan chimpanzees at JGI's Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in Republic of Congo, Africa's largest ape sanctuary.

Taking Action

Brandon, an 8-year-old from Charleston, Illinois, has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. Normally, he has difficulty organizing and planning tasks, but this time, Brandon had no trouble.

He spoke to fraternity and sorority students at nearby Eastern Illinois University about the dormitory campaign and the illegal commercial bushmeat trade in Africa. To play the part, Brandon dressed in a khaki safari outfit and passed around a "Chimp Change" jar.

"Brandon can struggle with one-on-one communication, and yet he was able to hold his own when it came to answering questions from the students," said his mother. "I can't offer an explanation for this, except he realized the importance of his work."

"I wanted to raise a hundred million dollars at first," Brandon said, "but my mom said to try to get $100. I ended up with $329.46, which is pretty good. I wanted to help the chimpanzees so that they could have a second chance at life."

Making a Difference

Roots & Shoots hears many similar stories about young people who are empowered to act out a natural passion to help make a better world.

"I have Asperger's, and it makes me smart about animals and able to help them," said Brandon. "I learned there are wonderful parts about having Asperger's. Everyone has gifts from God and can use those gifts to help."

Brandon's success in raising funds for Tchimpounga was repeated around the world. Through bake sales, crafts fairs, raffles and other creative fundraisers, Roots & Shoots groups and community members raised $53,000—$17,000 from a matching gift by an anonymous donor.

Today, the new dormitory at Tchimpounga is being constructed. Former Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Fellow Chase Pickering helped lead the Tchimpounga Youth Campaign with other members of the Youth Leadership Council.

"Hundreds of young people stepped up to a leadership role and took action to help the orphaned chimpanzees," Chase said.

"Young people already have the desire for change," said Jeanne McCarty, Vice President of Roots & Shoots. "They believe in the power of individual action, they just need tools and support."

Global Initiatives

The tools and support Roots & Shoots provides includes staff members based at regional offices throughout the country and the website launched in 2006. The website engages youth with each other and with the Roots & Shoots staff.

"We want to connect youth globally so they inspire each other, learn from each other and are a part of something bigger," explained McCarty.

Brandon Shines

Meanwhile, Brandon is a nominee for the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. He was featured by his local television station and on the Animal Planet website for R.O.A.R.—Reach Out, Act and Respond.

"In a perfect world," Brandon says on the site, "there would be no habitat destruction, and everyone would treat animals the way they would want to be treated."