The Roots that Anchor Us
Our History
Michael & Dameon
In 1992, six-month-old Michael Leeland was diagnosed with leukemia and desperately needed a bone marrow transplant to save his life. With no way to pay for the transplant, Michael’s parents, Jeff and Kristi, didn’t know where to turn.
As a middle school teacher, Jeff taught a class where Dameon, a big-hearted kid, was a student. After hearing of his teacher’s situation, Dameon emptied his bank account, donating his entire savings ($60) to hopefully make some kind of difference for Michael.
A chain reaction of compassion and generosity followed. Students and staff rallied the community to raise over $227,000 in under four weeks, which allowed Michael to receive his life saving transplant.
Four years after Dameon’s selfless gift, Sparrow Clubs USA was born, using a simple, yet powerful service model that ignites compassion and empathy in students wherever it is introduced.
