Nick Filippo: A 5th grader embodies the spirit of PIH co-founder Jim Kim for his school project.

Earlier this spring, Partners In Health gained a new ally, Nick Filippo. As part of a project for school, the fifth-grader decided to do a report about PIH co-founder and future World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Beyond just learning about Kim, Filippo embodied the energy and mission of the new World Bank president by both dressing as him and running a fundraising campaign.

His goal: raise $100 for PIH’s health care work around the world.

On May 21, Nick reached his goal!

In fact, to date he has raised $165 – surpassing his goal of $100.

All of us at Partners In Health are incredibly proud of Nick and hope that this is just the beginning of a long career dedicated to fighting for the poor.

Earlier this week, we asked Nick and his mom, Elizabeth, to tell us a little more about Nick’s project and his hopes in starting a fundraising campaign.

How did you learn about Partners In Health?

For my 5th grade Wax Museum project, I am doing a report on Jim Yong Kim, the newly elected President of the World Bank. The Wax Museum is a presentation where all of the 5th graders choose someone who has changed the world, and they pretend to be them during the designated period.

They also make a poster board and table presentation and tell visitors to their table about their famous person. I chose Jim Yong Kim because he is an important Korean-American who is working really hard to reduce poverty and make the world a better place.

One of Dr. Kim's accomplishments is co-founding Partners In Health, an organization that provides medical care and fights poverty in poor countries. I first learned about Partners In Health by reading Dr. Kim's Wikipedia page.

What motivated you to raise money and awareness for PIH?

When I was researching Drs. Jim Kim and Paul Farmer, I learned more about what PIH does for poor countries and I wanted to help.

I notice from some videos that kids only got to eat small portions only once a day and couldn’t go to the doctor, while I’m lucky enough that my mom can support my family so we can eat three times a day and even have snacks. It made me feel good that the money that I am raising can go towards more meals and medical care for the kids in need.

 

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I take Dr. Jim Yong Kim as a role model. I am also a Korean American. I was adopted from South Korea when I was a baby. One day I would like to be like him and have kids look up to me for doing great things.

It makes me want to do well in school and makes me think about how I want to change the world in my own way someday. Maybe a kid might do me for the wax museum when I grow up!  

I want to be an engineer because I am good at math and science and I would like to help other people build things, so I could walk in Dr. Kim’s footsteps and be as successful as him someday. Maybe even meet him someday and shake his hand! 

View Nick’s campaign.
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Read more about PIH's supporters of the week.