Not only is it amazing that a 6-year-old girl started an artistic movement to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the fact her initiative spread throughout Western Pennsylvania is an extraordinary lesson in empathy.

Kaylinh Lundell, 6, of Pittsburgh, launched “Draw for a Dream” with her mother, Tea Lundell, in April, an effort to raise $100,000 for St. Jude by getting children to raise money through their art.

On Sunday, June 14, children around Kaylinh’s age got together at White Star Fraternal Society in Buffalo Township to make drawings that would be auctioned off for money that would be given to St. Jude.

It was an initiative that showed children the joy of drawing and the joy of giving. And it all came from the mind of a kindergartner.

That’s some great emotional awareness from someone so young and her inspiration to others to go above and beyond to help people going through cancer treatments is admirable, to say the least. The fundraiser in Buffalo Township Sunday was just one of these events, which Tea Lundell said were springing up around Western Pennsylvania since her daughter came up with the idea in April.

That’s an impact even greater than money — a young person spreading initiative to people her age and their families. Inspiration is more powerful than money and Kaylinh has already shown that through Draw for a Dream.

Hopefully, the drawings made by Kaylinh and her peers will help draw more eyes to the effort as well.

— ET