[Updated July 25, 4:25 p.m.] For her 9th birthday last month, Rachel Beckwith told people that instead of giving her presents, they should donate to a charity providing clean water to families in developing nations.
The Seattle-area girl came up with $220, short of her $300 goal. She figured she’d try to raise more money next year.
Then came the crash.
Rachel died Saturday, taken off life support at a Seattle hospital three days after she and six other people were injured in a 14-vehicle pileup on Interstate 90 near her home in Bellevue, Washington, CNN affiliate KOMO reported.
But before her death, as word of Wednesday’s crash spread, so did news about Rachel’s fundraising wish. Her church took to Facebook, Twitter and its own website to promote her cause.
As of Monday afternoon, Rachel’s online fundraising page for the nonprofit group "charity: water" had landed more than $130,000 in donations, from more than 2,400 donors.
"Rest in peace knowing that your wish is helping people in ways that you could have never imagined," one contributor wrote on the campaign site.
Ryan Meeks, one of Rachel's pastors, said that "life is coming out of this death, with Rachel's generosity."
"It's inspired many, and it’s been amazing over the last 24 hours," Meeks told CNN's Don Lemon on "CNN Newsroom" Saturday night.
Rachel chose to help the nonprofit group after its founder spoke at her church, Eastlake Community Church in Bothell, Meeks said. On her fundraising page, Rachel explained her goal.
"On June 12th 2011, I'm turning 9. I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before," her fundraising page says. "I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday."
"She cares about other people more than herself," her aunt, Veronica Del Rosario, told KOMO for a story that aired Saturday. "She wanted everyone to give money so that children and parents could have water."
The charity says all of its public donations directly fund water projects. Its 2009 annual report said that in a three-year period, it provided 2,321 clean-water projects, helping more than 1 million people in 16 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia.
The church was scheduled to hold a service for Rachel on Sunday night.
"For a 9-year-old kid, a huge step of faith would be to say, 'Hey, for my birthday, I don't want anything. Give to those who are in greater need,'" Meeks said. "And not everyone’s that mature at 90, and yet here she is modeling for us at the age of 9, how to live that kind of life."
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This little girl has renewed my hope in humanity. These comments have not. Whatever your beliefs, this is not your battle ground.
What an amazing little girl.
My heart goes out to her family but so does my repect for raising such an amazing child.
This broke my heart. What a tragic loss of a wonderful child, who most surely would have been a great adult. I hope she is at peace.
This child was brought up beautifully. What she's done spans all belief systems– one doesn't have to be religious to give back to others, one simply has to be compassionate. This child was taught to have compassion in her hearts for others, and for that her parents should be heralded.
Well said!
What a selfless young girl. Why is it that the good die young? :-/
Rest in peace, Rachel; your wish was fulfilled.
When a young girl from my highschool died, a friend asked our teacher, "Why do good people die?" and she responded with "Good people die because God needs them to be his angels". Even if you don't believe in God, I think a lot of people can take comfort in that answer.
Our Father is putting together an army in heaven, shortly to return as all Bible prophecy concludes in this generation. A soul like hers would surely be worthy of this, and her parents will be with her again in the Millenial Age to come. Jesus took her in His arms and has said to her "well done thou good and faithful servant" She has returned home, there is no death in Christ Jesus, this beautiful being is eternal,To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. She is fine, and may God keep and comfort her loved ones with his eternal, unchanging truth.
The most important thing here is that a child did a beautiful, selfless thing to help others...and that her young life was cut tragically short. Some parents lost their child. Their child. Now, I'm an atheist. But I'm ashamed of the guy who used this tragedy as an opportunity to push their agenda. I may question the existence of god, but I most definitely believe in humanity...so where's the humanity here? My condolences to the family in this heartbreaking time for them.
Without subtracting from the "selfless act" of this fine young person, it sometimes helps to evaluate the causes of poverty before throwing money at it.
1. Most Americans (including those who supposedly live in poverty) are far better off than most in developing countries
2. In almost all cases, there is a direct connection between the lack of power of females and poverty
3. Almost all poverty is caused by over-population, which is a direct result of lack of power of females in developing countries
4. Poverty is directly associated with Islam and machismo cultural practices
There's nothing wrong with giving money to the starving in third world countries. But in fact micro-loans, birth control and empowering females and changing machismo cultures is the only way to actually treat poverty, because it encourages less population growth.
Realty is not always seen through the eyes of a child, as well meaning as she is.
sanjosemike
It is important to remember, however, that an act like this child's often focuses attention on the plight of others, so that people can then utilize the remedies you mention to make things better. Yes, just giving water doesn't have much effect, but those who are touched by this story might look into the things you mention. As someone who has worked for years with the sorts of programs you post about, it has been my experience that people who read this article will look farther, and some will give and work toward more effective solutions. Any and all light that can be shed on the plight is still light.
Some of the points you raise are chauvinistic and patronizing. Try living in Africa to have a true experience of the lives of African women. Further explore aid effectiveness and ask serious questions of the why? How? Where? And when? Just so you, micro-loans will keep them alive for tomorrow, but they will never achieve developed status on that strategy.
The point of the story was a little girl who thought more about others than what new toy or clothes she can get for her birthday. Let's revel in that beautiful life for awhile instead of bringing politics into it.
Mike said: "The point of the story was a little girl who thought more about others than what new toy or clothes she can get for her birthday. Let's revel in that beautiful life for awhile instead of bringing politics into it."
sanjosemike responds: I agree that this young girl was selfless in her thinking. But if you want to limit poverty, you must first change cultures (and religions) that promote male dominance. So...politics is everything if you really want to do something about poverty.
Other notes: Please point out to me how my comments are "chauvinistic." And yes, I have been to Africa. The degree of male dominance and over-running of the rights of females is shocking. This is why there is so much poverty, not the lack of resources. Males often seek females who provide them with male offspring and ignore the plight of their "previous" wives. And you WONDER why there is so much poverty?
sanjosemike
Sanjo, you are mistaken. The things you are talking about are indeed good ways of helping developing countries, but infrastructure also helps. When people have clean water so they are not sick, they live healthier lives and can earn more money. If you don't believe me, that's okay, but you won't understand why unless you take some economics classes or have it explained to you. Water charities are one of the best investments we can make. Perhaps we should not even call them charities, but investments, when it comes to clean water.
I'm not a religious person – in fact I don't even believe in religion. I do, however, believed Jesus walked the earth and I do believe some of the bible passages are indeed the true words of Jesus. I think this one passage describes this SELFLESS little girl named Rachel Beckwith:
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." – Jesus
Children often have a true inner sense of empathy for others, of having the desire to reach out and help someone who seems to need help. Often, I see humble selfless examples of children giving an item they cherish away to another or sacrificing something cherished to another. The most humble and selfless acts I have witnessed, have come from children.
If only more adults could start acting like children.
There's no doubt, Rachel, you've earned your wings. The earth has lost an angel but not your inspiration.
Thank you Rachel, for reminding us what's important in life – not the material gifts, but saving each other.
Class act. R.I.P. hon
I'd encourage everyone moaning about Amy Winehouse's death to read this story. Instead of weeping for a 27-year-old who repeatedly threw her life away, we should be truly feeling sorry for those like this little girl, who try to make the most of their lives and do good for others but are still taken too soon.
Thank you – a voice of reason.
Good LORD! I'm an agnostic and you anti-church folks are making ME sick this time! She learned about the water crisis IN Church okay?! That says a LOT to me that many Christians have better ways to occupy their time besides reading end of world blogs and shooting Norwegian school children. And as for the OTHER extreme – go back to Church, open your ears and pray for your own soul as well as the people you hate.
The angels has to go back soon! <3
Bless her sweet little heart. She is certainly an angel that in her 9 years of life made a great changes to the world.
THAT GIRL DIED WAY TO YOUNG THAT MUST SUK