It was a bright October day, and the student body was stuffed into the stands of the Apple Bowl, chattering excitedly about class dances and the parade they had just participated in. Then, it was time for the dances. As the eyes settled on the field, suddenly a scene that didn’t really look like a dance began to play out. Instead of a dance, a young girl was pulled out on the field in a Radio Flyer wagon, and she was speaking about her Make A Difference Day project, not blasting some dancing tunes.

Makenna Schwab of East Wenatchee was chosen as one of the 10 recipients of a $10,000 grant from USA Today to help with her Make A Difference Day project.

Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place at the end of October each year. For the past four years, Schwab has been participating in this event to help out Seattle Children’s Hospital. Makenna, who is now 12 years old, started her Make a Difference Day career selling cookies and lemonade, and then started a toy drive, sold Krispy Kremes, and this year, she began raising money to purchase Radio Flyer wagons for Seattle Children’s.

According to Melissa Schwab, Makenna’s mom, Makenna wanted to raise money for the wagons because they are easier to move kids throughout the hospital, and they are less scary than wheelchairs. She organized the project by herself, and recruited help from the community to complete her project.

“It was pretty amazing how the community was willing to jump in and help,” Melissa Schwab said.

The Make A Difference Day project was a huge success, and overshot the monetary goal. All in all, Makenna was able to provide Seattle Children’s with 33 wagons and 36 portable DVD players.

“You can’t be more proud than that. Especially given her circumstances. Her physical needs could certainly make her bitter, and it’s awesome to see her giving back. She has turned a negative into a positive,” Melissa Schwab said.