Rachel Beckwith was approaching her ninth birthday, complete with party-planning and all the anticipated gifts. But then she heard about Charity: Water, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide clean drinking water in countries where that is an unattainable luxury rather than a basic necessity. And about how millions of people didn’t have access to something that simple . . . that lifesaving. So, the party-planning did an about face. She didn’t want a party, and she didn’t want any presents. She wanted everyone to give $9.00 to Charity: Water in honor of her ninth birthday. Her goal was to raise $300.00 which would have provided clean water for 15 people.
Rachel didn’t quite make her goal; she missed it by $80.00. Although she was disappointed her mother wisely praised her efforts. After all, people had still been helped and they could always try again next year. That made Rachel even more determined . . . next year she would work harder. Next year she would meet her goal.
But next year never came for Rachel. Less than a month later she died in a horrific car crash on I-90 outside of Seattle, Washington, one that began with a semi jackknifing into a log truck and ended with Rachel being the only fatality.
Someone contacted Charity: Water, asking them to reopen her campaign so they could finish what Rachel had started. So they could reach her original goal of $300.00.
They had no idea what was about to happen.
As word spread of Rachel’s generous heart and her tragic death, donations began to pour in, literally from around the world. Within a matter of months her desire to raise $300.00 brought in over $1,265,000.00, money donated by 31,997 individuals and organizations. Instead of helping 15 people, her dream provided clean drinking water for over 37,700 by allowing Charity: Water to complete 143 projects.
There are a few lessons I hope you’ll take away from Rachel’s story . . .
1) Never give up. Rachel was determined to work even harder to make her dream come true when she didn’t quite meet her goal the first time.
2) Never believe that the good you can do isn’t worth doing because it isn’t “big” or “important”.
3) Never doubt that your legacy is important. What you leave behind in this world matters.
Rachel Beckwith was a beautiful child with a heart for those who were struggling. Her desire to help a few resulted in memorials to her throughout Ethiopia—memorials dedicated to her generosity, her vision, and her love for others. When you feel defeated or unworthy or doubt the difference you can make, I hope you’ll remember a nine-year-old girl from Bellevue, Washington whose impact was felt around the world.
About the author: Lisa Shackelford Thomas is a fourth-generation member of a family that’s been in funeral service since 1926 and has worked with Shackelford Funeral Directors in Savannah, Tennessee for over 45 years. Any opinions expressed here are hers and hers alone and may or may not reflect the opinions of other Shackelford family members or staff.
