“Rachel Is Smiling”

Question: What can one nine-year-old girl accomplish?

Answer: Plenty, when the goodness of her heart touches others just waiting for a cause to lift up their spirits.

Rachel Beckwith of Bellvue, Oregon was one of those rare people who “got” what it meant to be a real human being and a true citizen of the world.

As her ninth birthday approached on June 12, she declared she didn’t want toys or gifts but asked her friends and family to donate to her campaign to raise $300 to help 15 people in developing nations have access to clean water.

Her campaign raised $220 — $80 short of its goal – and that might have been the end of it. A nice effort by a sweet little girl to do something for others far less fortunate than her.

But that’s when Rachel’s story took a dark turn. She was riding with her mother on July 20 when their car was involved in a 13-vehicle accident after a semi-truck crashed into a logging truck.

Rachel was fatally injured in the crash, dying the next day.

When word spread about her death, people quickly came forward to make donations to Rachel’s cause at www.mycharitywater.org.

Total strangers from around the world began sending in donations of as little as $9 – in honor of her ninth birthday – all the way up to $300 and more.

As of this week, $858,000 had been raised through more than 23,000 donations, enough to help provide clean water for 43,000 people.

“The world could use more people like Rachel,” wrote one contributor on her webpage. “What an inspiring little girl.”

“How powerfully, profoundly moving – but oh so overwhelmingly heartbreaking – that the taken life of a single child could save and preserve so many thousands of other lives, making possible countless futures that would otherwise never have been. You lead, Rachel; we will follow.”

Rachel’s mom posted this message on her child’s website: “I am in awe of the overwhelming love to take my daughter’s dream and make it a reality. In the face of unexplainable pain, you have provided undeniable hope.

“Thank you for your generosity. I know Rachel is smiling!”

Scott Harrison, founder of New York-based charity:water, said Rachel’s campaign is by far the largest in the organization’s history. He said Rachel’s story is a heartwarming example of what can happen when people with good hearts are touched by a simple dream.

“I’ve seen things like this happen before where people just rally behind simple ideas like clean water,” Harrison told msnbc.com. “The selflessness of a nine-year-old girl who said ‘I don’t want a birthday party, I don’t want gifts, I just want people to have clean water’ – that’s the way it resonates with people.”

What an amazing little kid. There’s still time to contribute to Rachel’s dream and make it your dream, too.

Join us.

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