You Are Never Too Young to Lead by Example

Grace Buffington decided to help manatees by raising money at a lemonade stand last summer. (Photo courtesy Lydia Buffington)

By Judith Vallee,
Development Director

From time to time, we like to tell our readers about exceptional people – young, old, and in-between – who care about manatees, and what these wonderful individuals are doing to help.

Grace Buffington is a special seven-year old who lives in a small town in New York State. According to her mom, Lydia, Grace has always loved all animals. She became interested in manatees when her Florida-based aunt gave her a manatee toy for Christmas one year. Then Grace wanted to learn all about them. Lydia says, “So Grace and I visited the Club’s web site. Grace became very upset by what was happening to the manatees and wanted to help them. She felt it was very unfair that an animal who didn't hurt anyone was getting injured.”

Last summer, Grace decided to have a lemonade stand so she could raise money to adopt a manatee. Even though it was a rainy July day, she earned enough money to adopt not one, but three manatees. This past winter, Grace pushed on with her efforts and had a hot cocoa stand during her home town’s annual Christmas parade. She earned enough money to adopt two more manatees.

Grace was featured in her local paper and since then, lots of people have rallied behind her and her mission. They gave her enough money to adopt six more manatees. She also used her Christmas money to adopt one more.

Grace’s compassion for manatees kept inspiring others to help. Her Sunday school teacher was so impressed with this special seven-year old that she made her annual class project a bake and craft sale to help Grace adopt even more manatees.

Grace’s mom tells us her daughter is very shy. Grace, however, was more than willing to overcome her shyness if it meant helping manatees by talking to the people who contributed to her mission about the problems that manatees face.

Such a young person is inspirational and gives us hope that tomorrow’s adults will continue to safeguard manatees and make the world a better place for people and animals alike. YOU GO GRACE!

All bundled up for the New York winter, Grace sells hot chocolate for manatees. (Photo courtesy Lydia Buffington)