By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

LITCHFIELD – Emily Beaulieu’s wish was simple: donations instead of birthday gifts.

She was 6 turning 7, and had just gotten everything she ever wanted for Christmas. Her birthday gifts, she thought, should go to children who needed them more.

Her story, told by the Sun Journal in January, netted a van full of donations: puzzles, stuffed animals and other toys for children who lost everything in house fires.

Her simple wish came true. So the bubbly, home-schooled 7-year-old has her sights on something even bigger,

She is starting her own charity.

Emily’s Wish will give money, toys or other donations to children whose lives have been devastated by fire.

“Everything they have is burned to a crisp so they don’t have anything left. So now they’ll have something,” Emily said.

Emily, who is too young for long division or even a night home alone, will preside over a board of directors. She’ll handpick the three or four children and adults who will help with her vision.

She’s already asked her mom and dad to join.

With their input, Emily will decide who her charity will help and how.

“It’s going to be a lot of work, but she’s actually going to see herself touching lives,” said Lisa Beaulieu, Emily’s mother.

Bangor Savings Bank employees and a local lawyer have agreed to help “Emily’s Wish” file for nonprofit status. All will work for free.

Nonprofits can draw large donors who want a tax deduction or smaller donors who want to know they’re giving money to a legitimate group. It will likely take months for Emily’s Wish to become nonprofit.

But the wait won’t be boring. Emily’s schedule, and that of her parents, has already filled with decisions, meetings, honors.

On Friday, she’ll meet with Gov. John Baldacci.

“One-on-one it has to be something pretty special,” said spokesman Dan Cashman. “In his eyes, she’s pretty special.”

Copy the Story Link