Credit: WEWS

To most seventh graders, being awarded as little $25 is exciting. With that money, they can go to the movies with their friends, purchase a hefty stack of junk food, or perhaps buy a shirt their parents’ wouldn’t buy them otherwise. With so many possibilities behind $25, a seventh grader would be absolutely floored upon receiving a $15,000 prize. What could they possibly do with that type of money? For Diesel Pippert, the answer was easy: donate it all to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Credit: Postal Museum – Smithsonian Institution

News of a teen in a nearby Ohio county donating $11,000 to the nonprofit children’s hospital spurred the idea in young Diesel’s mind. The boy already planned to place his premium livestock in the Huron County Fair large animal sale, so why not make some good out of it? He spread the word to his Saturday afternoon crowd, and the bids rolled in. First, a modest $500, but the number continued to tick all the way up to $15,000.

His Western Reserve Local Schools district took notice of the boy’s deed and shared the news via Facebook.

“A young man lives amongst us who should be an example to us all,” Western Reserve Local Schools shared. “His donation of $15,000 will help to find cures for young children and save lives. Diesel, you are a hero!”

News of the boy’s good deed spread like wildfire—catching the attention of major publications such as USA Today and CBS News. The district reports that Diesel’s donation has inspired others to do the same, proving that kindness is infectious.

Credit: UNICEF

Diesel Pippert illustrates that philanthropy has no age. It isn’t reserved for the extremely wealthy. All it comes down to is a person who wants to make a difference in the world, and what they are willing to do to make that difference.

Donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital here.