Go-getter Iowa Teen Raises More than $2000 with Inventive Dinner
May 12, 2010....Between high school sports and classes AND preparing for college exams, Iowa teen Schyler Bardole pulled off two innovative dinners to benefit the World Soy Foundation. The more than $2375 he has raised for the World Soy Foundation has whetted his appetite to do more.
Schyler named the project Relieving Undernourishment with Soy in Haiti (RUSH). "When Haiti suffered from the 7.0 earthquake, I heard about all the food being sent for relief," Schyler says. "I then thought to myself, food can only be eaten once so sending food is only a quick fix to a big problem. Sending either of these machines can continually provide a protein source that could save lives. This would be a possible solution to a big problem."
Schyler Bardole presented his goal of providing a SoyCow or VitaGoat to help people in Haiti at the fundraisers he organized in March and May.He worked through his hometown church youth group in Rippey, Iowa to host a spaghetti dinner. Posters and church announcements served as advertising. The March 21 dinner attracted 48 people and raised more than $1000. The youth group treated guests as if they were at a nice restaurant. Everyone ordered off menus with foods that varied from lobster to duck to spaghetti. No matter what they ordered, the guests received a spaghetti meal. They paid the price of the entrée they ordered, with the difference being their donation to the World Soy Foundation.
Schyler made a presentation about his goal of providing a SoyCow or VitaGoat soyfood processing machine to help people in Haiti. Grandfather Roy Bardole, who is the World Soy Foundation Chairman, helped field questions on the technology as well as training needed to support it.
A SoyCow is a processing system that can grind and cook whole soybeans into soymilk, from which beverages, soya "cheese" (tofu), yogurt and other soyfoods can be made. One pound of dry soybeans makes approximately one gallon of soymilk or yogurt. VitaGoats work similarly but are powered by a cycle grinder instead of electricity. The World Soy Foundation and its partners have worked with groups in numerous developing countries that now use the SoyCows and VitaGoats to produce foods for orphanages and still have food available to sell, making the operations economically sustainable.
The May 8 event allowed guests to order from a menu with prices ranging from $100 chimichangas to $15 fajitas and $5 tacos. Everyone received tortilla soup, an opportunity to eat at the taco bar, Mexican Wedding Cake and a drink. The checks are still coming in and Schyler is thinking about how to take his fundraising to the next level.
"Schyler’s efforts are going to nourish children and adults with soy protein to help them build a better future for Haiti," said World Soy Foundation Executive Director Nathan Ruby. "We are grateful to such a compassionate and determined teen.”
