Valley teen gets $10,000 for creating help group

Rachael Lambin will receive $10,000 for doing something.

The 16-year-old Carson Valley resident was awarded a $5,000 scholarship and a $5,000 community grant by Do Something, an organization founded to recognize young social entrepreneurs nationwide.

Do Something will recognize Lambin and eight others in their annual Brick awards ceremony April 11 in New York City. Since 1993, Do Something has funded change-makers who identify problems in their communities and get up and do something about it.

Rachael's contribution to the community was the creation of Helping Obese People through Education, a program to help young people with obesity.

The project started in her mother Debbie Lambin's 4-H class. Rachael was a 200-pound teenager who knew she needed help to lose weight.

"I was hoping there was somewhere to get help but I came up with nothing," she said. "I got the idea to start the project and it came to be."

The program sets up exercise sessions, healthy cooking classes and meetings with nutritionists.

"I know just by someone giving awareness to the problem is a help," said Rachael who eventually lost more than 70 pounds. "We tell people about health problems and the money spent on fast foods. People need to start early and change their habits."

Rachael plans to make an orphanage in Mathare, Kenya, the recipient of the $5,000 community grant.

Rachael is home-schooled and is interested in a career in either fashion design or culinary arts for healthy foods. She works with a youth board to try to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club in Gardnerville.

Rachael said she's created a new project called Agape which means "unconditional love."

"We started out sending our own home-school books," said Rachael. "We want to help kids in Africa to get out of slums by sending school books."

To find out about HOPE or any other of Lambin's programs, go to Rachael@kidshelpingkids-r.us.

Take the instant poll at Do Something's Web site to vote on which of the Brick Award winners gets an extra $5,000 for their project or organization. Rachael said if she wins the additional money, it will go toward the Boys & Girls Club of Carson Valley. Vote at dosomething.org.