Teen's organization helps military causes
Plans for a Sweet 16 birthday party led a Southlake teenager on a two-year journey of giving.
Tori Pimentel, now a senior at Carroll High School in Southlake, was starting to plan the party of her dreams in 2011. But then, she said, she stepped back and thought of the military men and women overseas.
She told her mother, Mona Burk, that she would rather spend her 16th birthday taking the focus off herself and instead doing something worthwhile for others.
"I decided I wanted to help U.S. soldiers," she said. "They are the true heroes of America and the reason I was even able to have a 16th birthday."
She set a goal to raise $16,000, and formed Operation Sweet 16, which is now a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
In the 10 months before her 16th birthday—March 16, 2012—she raised more than $24,000. Of that, $9,000 was donated early in the fundraising process to Operation Once in Lifetime, a charity focused on the military.
Now, after dozens of fundraising efforts and plenty of support from businesses in the Southlake area, Frisco and Plano, Pimentel has raised more than $35,000 including the earlier amounts.
Fundraising
Pimentel started fundraising in 2011 by building a website and having T-shirts made to support her cause.
With the help of friends, she organized spirit night efforts at Chick-fil-A and Jason's Deli, and talked to customers to promote awareness of Operation Sweet 16 and raise money.
A large portion of her fundraising came through a partnership with Stacy Schuch, who at the time was marketing director for Stonebriar Centre in Frisco.
Through that connection, Pimentel had a fashion show fundraiser at Stonebriar Centre. She and her classmates decorated mall displays, and their artwork was featured in a fundraiser auction.
Schuch continued to provide opportunities at Stonebriar Centre and stayed in touch with Pimentel after she took a new position with the Shops at Legacy in Plano.
Pimentel and Operation Sweet 16 have been featured in window artwork at the Shops.
Schuch arranged for Pimentel to give away fundraising money at the Lights at Legacy tree lighting ceremony Nov. 10. She presented a $20,000 check to Homes for our Troops, a national organization that supports soldiers who have returned from duty with disabilities or injuries by building housing for them and their families.
"She is a neat young lady, and I'm glad I can be a part of her journey," Schuch said.
The future of Operation Sweet 16
Although she will graduate from high school next year and attend college, Pimentel said Operation Sweet 16 is not over.
She is moving on to what she calls the second phase.
Pimentel is encouraging others of any age to give up birthday gifts and request that donations be made to Operation Sweet 16 to benefit military personnel.
Pimentel also continues to seek out partnerships with businesses to continue her cause.
She and the Operation Sweet 16 board of directors chose Homes for our Troops to continue the mission of helping soldiers in need.
Operation Sweet 16
To learn more about the organization's efforts, visit
www.operationsweet16.org and follow Operation Sweet 16 on Facebook; on Twitter @OpSweet16.
