Florissant Girl Fundraises to Help Others in Make-a-Wish Foundation

Although several children are enjoying camps, activities and the other leisures of summer, one girl has spent her summer fundraising toward the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Zoey Martinez, 7, has a goal to raise $500 for the foundation, and in turn, Zoey’s parents will take her to the Justin Bieber concert when he comes to the Scottrade Center on Oct. 27.

“We thought about it, and we decided we would purchase tickets if she did a fundraiser,” proud dad Chris Martinez said. “It gives her an opportunity to help people and achieve something.”

After looking at several charities through Justin Bieber’s Believe Charity Drive website, Zoey selected the Make-a-Wish foundation because it helps other children who are sick by making their wishes come true.

Approximately one month ago, Zoey set up her Make-a-Wish website, and since that time she’s had a lemonade stand and a washers tournament and has made it to more than halfway toward her goal at $350.

“(My family) is proud of me, and that I’m almost there,” Zoey said.

Chris Martinez said he and his wife wanted her to learn two things from this experience—you earn things versus just asking and getting it and that they wanted her to know the feeling of doing good for other people.

He said that while he has two older children who have had to earn things, this is the first time that he and his wife have done something like this for one of their children.

Although Zoey still has another $150 to raise, she plans to do another lemonade stand and has talked about the possibility of a car wash to meet her goal.

While she has another goal of Justin Bieber tickets to attain, Zoey believes this is not the end of the line, and that she will do more fundraisers and projects in the future to help others.

“I’ve been fond to see her get more confident in doing something for others,” Chris Martinez said. “This is the first time she’s done something like this on her own and led the effort.” 

Donations can be made directly to Zoey's website.