Zone 17
No. 14 Vol. 10
New View Media Group • 1-800-691-7549
May 22, 2018
Montville Fifth-Grader Donates Business Proceeds To Soldiers
C
By Julie Ross oming from a military family, Douggie Larsen recognizes the sacrifices involved in enlisting in any branch of U.S. military service. So it came as no surprise to many people when the fifth-grade student at Montville’s William Mason Elementary School recently donated $100 from selling handmade wooden American flags to Hope For The Warriors, a national non-profit organization dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family, and hope for veterans, service members, and military families. Larsen developed, created, and sold the flags while participating in his school’s TREP$ program, a national program that teaches youngsters in grades four to eight how to start their own businesses in six to eight weeks. Budding entrepreneurs apply the lessons learned during weekly workshops to building their businesses at
home with the help of their families. Along with fellow TREP$ participants who exhibited their own creations, Larsen sold his wares at a TREP$ marketplace held at William Mason Elementary School once the lessons had concluded. Larsen said thankfulness to all who serve or have served in the mili ta r y — i n c l u d i n g his U.S. Marines veteran grandfather, for whom he is named, and his father’s best friend, who was killed in action while on active duty in Iraq— inspired him to choose American flags as the product he would make and TEASE SALON sell for his TREP$ project, as well as Is A One on One Treatment to donate the profrom Start to Finish. ceeds from the We Block Out The Background sale. The youngster So We Can Focus On Your Hair. was born in 2007. One week later, his father, Doug Larsen, was deployed B A Y A L A G E & for a year-long stint C O L O R S P E C I A L I S T of military service 208 Myrtle Ave • Boonton with the U.S. Army 973.588.7111 in Iraq. www.TeaseSalonNj.com “I know that it’s Follow us on Facebook @TeaseSalonNj because of military Instagram @TeaseSalonNj members that we
Douggie Larsen’s baby picture.
have our freedoms and luxuries,” Larsen said. “I wanted to help families of wounded service members, and also because my dad was a soldier.” Both Doug Larsen and David Melucci, principal of William Mason Elementary School, told the “HomeTown News” they were very impressed by Larsen’s decision to donate the funds to Hope For The Warriors. “I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Doug Larsen said, adding that although his son “could have spent
the money on video games, or something else that was self-serving, he donated to the people who sacrifice most, our soldiers.” He added that while trying to figure out what type of product to make and sell at the marketplace, the youngster expressed a wish to “do something with a greater meaning rather than just earn money.” Doug Larsen’s suggestion that the boy dedicate his efforts to Hope For The Warriors was met with great enthusiasm.
“He loves the Army football team, and he loves soldiers,” Doug Larsen said. “He loved the fact that he could be successful at the project and help a greater cause.” Melucci said learning how Larsen had used his TREP$ profits confirmed what a n“o u t sta n d i n g young man” he is. “Donating his hardearned money was an extremely generous and selfless act,” Melucci said. Our entire school community is proud of Douggie and his family’s cont. on page 4