Little Red Wagon's Zach Bonner, of Valrico, Receives First Elmer's Award

Zach Bonner, the Valrico youngster who captured the nation's attention when he started a foundation to help homeless children, was recognized at this year's Kids in Need Foundation gala for his receipt of the first Elmer's Award.

The award, given at the foundation's Sept. 19 gala, recognizes youngsters who help make a positive difference in the lives of their peers, working to ensure that every child is prepared to learn by having the right supplies on hand.

"Some kids like to play baseball and some kids like to play football," said Bonner, who is homeschooled. "But I like to do community service work."

The foundation partnered with Elmer's to launch the awards program. According to Terri Brown, a spokesperson for Elmer's, the maker of Elmer’s glue, Bonner was a shoe-in for the inaugural award by virtue of the following deeds:

• At the age of 7, Bonner used his well-loved toy wagon to collect water and supplies in Tampa for victims of the 2004 Hurricane Charley. Concerned after seeing some homeless children in Tampa, a year later he formed the Little Red Wagon Foundation to help them.

• Now 15, Bonner continues to aid underprivileged children through his foundation, which has distributed more than 4,000 backpacks — "Zach Packs" — to homeless youth nationwide. Stuffed with food, personal hygiene kits and other supplies, the backpacks attend to basic needs, but also included a candy pack and small toy.

• In addition, the Little Red Wagon Foundation since 2006 has hosted holiday parties for homeless youth, victims of natural disasters, unwed mothers under age 21, emergency foster care kids, domestic violence shelters.

• Bonner also has distributed more than 2,000 books to Title 1 (low-income) schools, students, migrant farmers and programs that serve them. Another 450 books have been distributed to homeless youth and foster kids.

• He's donated new sports equipment to programs serving homeless youth and foster kids affected by natural disasters.

• He's hosted 23 parties for homelss youth at Build-A-Bear Workshop, Chuck E. Cheese, Six Flags amusement parks, Putt-Putt and other venues.

• For the past five years, Bonner, with the help of other children, has organized 24-hour events in Tampa Bay, sleeping outdoors in cardboard boxes to raise funds, awareness and supplies for homeless youth.

• The determined red-headed, blue-eyed youth then gained national attention when he walked more than 4,263 miles, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, to raise awareness of the plight of homeless youth.

Bonner's philanthropic efforts attracted the attention of Hollywood director David Anspaugh, whose film credits include Hoosiers and Rudy.

Anspaugh subsequently made the film, Little Red Wagon, based on Bonner's volunteer efforts. In the movie, Chandler Canterbury plays Bonner. The film also stars Anna Gunn, Daveigh Chase and Frances O'Connor. (Watch the movie trailer.)

Donate online to the Little Red Wagon Foundation or send checks to Little Red Wagon Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 2532, Valrico, FL 33595.