Bricks Busting Boredom
WHS Student Creates Nonprofit To Help Kids In The Hospital Story and Photos by Julie Unger
Little multicolored bricks might be a nightmare for wary parents, but for Wellington High School student Daniel Clein, they’re something extremely special. They hold the power to cheer up a sick child, spur creativity and make a long-term hospital stay less dreary. Clein’s mission started in 2015, when he was visiting his cousin in the hospital and met a child named Anthony who loved Star Wars Lego collections. “That’s what he wanted, and nobody supplied Legos to hospitals because they’re so expensive. When they contacted me, saying, ‘If you have anything you can do to help us out, it would be amazing,’ I realized how useful Legos are as a toy for kids, because they can play with them over and over and with different ways every time they’re played with. They really, truly foster that curiosity and imagination,” Clein said. And so, Bricks Busting Boredom,
which recently received its official nonprofit status, came to be. Clein started a Bricks Busting Boredom club at Wellington High School, where a group of students wanted to help Clein with his goal of sharing Lego bricks, which are easily washable, with children in the hospital. He delivered 230 pounds of “upcycled” Lego bricks and 50 boxes of new Lego packages to Palms West Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 19 for young patients to enjoy. Once Clein graduates next year, other students will remain working on the day-to-day operations of the organiza-
tion with Clein overseeing things. “They’re an absolutely amazing help in doing what we do,” he said. “I couldn’t appreciate them more for their initiative and for helping out.” Wherever Clein winds up for college — his goal is to attend the University of Florida — he will be able to remain in constant communication with the club, (Above) Daniel Clein with a table of donated Lego collections. (Below) Clein with pediatric patient Benjamin Cano.
wellington wellingtonthe themagazine magazine||december december2016 2016 63 63