I am in 8th grade at The Archer School for Girls. Some things I like to do in my free time are running, listening to music, and hanging out with my friends. My parents are Amy & Wade Clayton, and I have a younger sister, Charlie, who is 11 years old. For my mitzvah project, I will be raising money for The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Considering that 1.25 million children have this disease, helping JDRF could truly have an impact on someone’s life. Having a diabetic in my family really put things into perspective for me; it made me realize that I was lucky to be happy and healthy and be surrounded by the people I love. Unfortunately, having a disease can sometimes come in the way of that.

By donating the money I collect to JDRF, not only would the donation potentially fund improvements in the medical technology for diabetes, but it could also pull families closer together. I chose to donate to JDRF because they aren’t just looking for a cure, they are actively making an effort to better the lives of people with diabetes.

I would like to thank Rabbi Aaron, Rabbi Bassin, Cantor Weiss, Rabbi Lutz, and Allison Bluestein for helping me prepare for my Bat Mitzvah.

“Try to be a rainbow in somebody’s cloud.” –Maya Angelou