In the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, 27 fifth-grade students at Loma Linda Academy began brainstorming about how to help. Ideas ranged from doing extra chores to earn money to lemonade stands to a benefit concert.

The students voted unanimously for a benefit concert. "Being a typical adult, I was most skeptical about this option," said teacher Amy Cornwall. "It seemed likely that the fifth-graders would scratch the surface of the work and the rest would be left to me. But they were so excited that I selected two of them to write a proposal to our principal."

The following day the students had an outline of who would perform, when the concert would be held, and how much tickets would cost. The principal approved it.

Since this was the student’s project, they made a list of jobs to do. One of the first tasks was to choose a name. One child suggested “Golden Talent,” which grew to “Golden Talent: A Show to Benefit the Hurricane Victims.” Each student became a public relations specialist to a particular classroom on campus. Posters went up everywhere. Very quickly word spread about the coming event.

Volunteer performers were found in each grade. Among the 14 acts chosen were a magician (second-grader); a ballet dancer (third grade); a hula dancer (fifth grade); and a group of singers (sixth grade).

Meanwhile, the fifth-graders designed decorations for the auditorium, organized ticket sales, and created a newscast video to show at the beginning of the event, set for Oct. 1. At the benefit concert itself, they collected tickets, sold food at the intermission, served as stage crew, provided security, and took up the offering.

To the students' delight, more than 450 attended. The show went flawlessly, and the audience was amazed at the golden talent hidden within the elementary school.

Teachers were in awe of what a group of 9- to 11-year-olds could accomplish. Because the children had a desire to love their neighbors—even those they had never met—they worked tirelessly.

At the end of the event, the children sent more than $2,300 to Adventist Community Services for hurricane victims—far more than anyone had anticipated.