Crafty Kid

Nine-year-old Christian Ramos, of Hamburg, New York, is a big fan of his local football team, the Buffalo Bills. He’s also into crafting. He has combined these two interests into a service project: making and selling Bills-themed souvenirs for charity.

“We started off with ornaments,” Christian told TIME for Kids. “Then we did bracelets and coozies [sleeves that keep drinks cold]. We did magnets and then a billion other things,” such as keychains and necklaces. He and his mom sell the items online and at craft fairs for $5 each. Bracelets are best-sellers for Christian. He uses red and blue beads for the Bills team colors, adding white letter and number beads to insert “Go Bills” or players’ names or jersey numbers.

Last year, sales topped $1,500, which Christian donated to the Patricia Allen Fund. It benefits patients at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital (OCH), in Buffalo. Giving “makes me feel good,” Christian says. He hopes to make an even larger donation this December.

BIG CHECK Christian Ramos presents a check for the amount he donated to a children’s hospital in 2023.

Helping Kids

Christian started fundraising when he was 6. He loves his two cats, Ozzie and Gracie, so his first donation, of $500, went to the cat adoption group Ten Lives Club. That’s where his family got Gracie.

The following year, Christian donated to the Patricia Allen Fund. “I wanted to help the kids,” Christian says. Plus, the fund is supported by Bills quarterback Josh Allen, in honor of his grandmother. “He’s my favorite football player,” Christian says.

JUST KEEP BEADING Christian beads a bracelet that he’ll sell to raise money for charity.

Dr. Stephen Turkovich, president of OCH, says the Patricia Allen Fund is “very much dedicated to critical care,” helping kids recover from injuries and major illnesses. At the hospital, “we try to surround them with a whole team of specialists who are not only fixing them physically but also helping them socially and emotionally,” he says. Donations like Christian’s make this work possible.

Game On

Christian’s fundraising goal for 2024 is to “beat last year.” His little sister, Irena, is chipping in. According to Christian, he and Irena spend about 30 minutes a week crafting bracelets and other items for sale. Their mom, Stephanie Ramos, says they sometimes devote more time to the effort. “He really takes advantage when we have real bad snowy weather,” she says. “They just camp out at the dining room table. They’ve got their beads all over the place!”

READY TO SELL Christian and his sister, Irena, offer homemade crafts at a market in Derby, New York, on August 22.

Christian accepts custom orders. “One of our customers wanted me to make, like, four Mahomes bracelets,” he says. Patrick Mahomes is quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. The request makes Christian, a die-hard Bills fan, cringe. “They’re kind of our rival team,” his mom explains. “But he did it for the donation.”

Raising money for the children’s hospital is what matters most to Christian. With his sister’s help, he has expanded his product range. “She makes Taylor Swift bracelets,” Christian says. Swifties snatch them up.

By mid-September, Christian had already raised $1,200. This puts him on track to make his biggest donation yet.

Inspired?

Let Christian’s story inspire you to take action in your community. Click below for ideas about how you can raise funds for a cause you care about.