Zachary Bonner: Brilliance In a 12-Year Old

Zachary is on his third fund-raising trek, this time walking from his home near Tampa, FL to the Pacific Ocean, for a total of 2,478 miles. His purpose is to raise money for homeless kids. He founded the Little Red Wagon Foundation when he was six years old; his project at that time was getting water to people after Hurricane Charley hit Florida in 2004.

Zachary Bonner

The Little Red Wagon Foundation has provided school supplies, food, clothing and toys to homeless children. His efforts have raised over $50,000 in years past and he has received pledges of about $120,000 from sponsors this year, including $50,000 from Elton John, when Zachary reaches Los Angeles.

Zachary said “I feel we should meet their basic needs but take it a step further and meet their kid needs. I feel it’s important for everyone to have the opportunity to just be a kid.” Ironically this wisdom comes from the mouth of a 12-year old little boy who studies at home so that he can finish his school requirements quickly to give more time to his charity work.

What is it that gives Zachary his motivation, his wisdom and the heart to do this work? It has to be something deep inside that inspires him to greatness. We believe that Zachary’s work comes from his innate Brilliance, that conscious and creative energy than enlivens all of us. His special expression of Brilliance is remarkable and reminds and inspires us to live full out from our unique Brilliance.

How do we touch base with our Brilliance? Laurie Bonner, Zachary’s Mother, gives us a clue. In a conversation, she shared: “I have parents that ask me all the time: How do you get them involved?” She continued: “I don’t think you can. Unless the kid loves that thing they are doing, there is no way. I used to think it would end; but now I think maybe this is what he’s supposed to do.”

If we follow our hearts, and find what we love doing, we can be sure that we are acting from our Brilliance and contributing to make a better world. This is what most of us are looking for, our purpose, what brings meaning to our lives. Along the way, Brilliance inspires others to do the same. As the old song lyric says, What the world needs now, is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. Let your Brilliance lead you to what you love, and watch what happens.

Quotes from Star Tribune, “Big Heart, Little Boy” 8-1-10

Zach’s website: http://littleredwagonfoundation.com/ and

Utube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHx2IJ-xGVw&feature=player_embedded