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Teen's charity expands with each Christmas
By MELANIE AVE © St. Petersburg Times, published December 24, 2000 HUNTER'S GREEN -- Christopher Shelton's annual Christmas benefit party was a moving sight, according to his mother, Elizabeth Shelton-Mekdeci. About 175 of the Hunter's Green teenager's friends, most from Wharton High School, showed up at the fete held earlier this month at the Hunter's Green Country Club. Dressed in their finest holiday wear, the teenagers were there to listen to music, visit with friends -- and help others. "If you could have seen these kids bringing in big huge bags of gifts," exclaimed Shelton-Mekdeci. "It was pretty amazing. But then, it always is." It was the third benefit party the 14-year-old has had since 1998. Two years ago, Christopher decided he wanted to help other children after reading a newspaper story about a local girl who had cancer and who was afraid of being in the hospital during Christmas. The story touched and motivated the boy, a seventh-grader at the time, to have regular benefit parties to help hospitalized children. Christopher wondered: Who wants to be stuck in the hospital during Christmas? Each year since, he has sent out invitations to his party along with a wish list of suggested gifts for sick and disadvantaged children. Before this year's party, Christopher had gathered about 650 gifts and $4,500 for the Tampa Children's Hospital. He more than doubled that amount this year by collecting another 650 gifts and $4,876. This year's gifts and cash were split between the Tampa Children's Hospital at St. Joseph's, the Shriners Hospital and the Pediatric Care Center at the University Community Hospital. Christopher was recognized earlier this year by the local chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, winning its first "Youth in Philanthropy Award." "He seems personally committed, even at this age," said Judi Roberts, patient advocate for the St. Joseph's Hospital of Tampa Foundation. "It isn't something only his mom wants him to do. "I really feel it's something he will continue." In addition to getting friends to donate gifts, Christopher walked door-to-door, held a garage sale and washed neighbor's lanais to collect money for the three hospitals. "Every year we do this, people get more comfortable about what this is about," Shelton-Mekdeci said. "I saw VCRs walking through the door. Boomboxes. Stereo systems. It's just unbelievable." She and Christopher, who consider charity as an outgrowth of their Christian faith, said none of their efforts would work without the giving spirit of many New Tampa families. "It's really wonderful to see what our community does," Shelton-Mekdeci said. "But it's even more awesome to see what this community continues to do." - Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3473 or melanie@sptimes.com.
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