By Logan Bramn

The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project couldn’t happen without the time and energy of hundreds of volunteers. If the Cowan-Brown family was here, it’s safe to say they would be pitching in as much as everyone else.

The family, and especially daughter Kori Brown, have been donating time and raising money for various causes for years despite a series of health problems they faced due to the growing mold problem within the house.

Kori, the most affected by the mold, faced symptoms that exacerbated her congenital blood disease that has already required 17 operations to treat. According to Tammy Lively, a radio host with WWKI, the operations haven’t stopped Kori from helping others.

Lively has been fundraising with Kori since 2003. In that time, Kori has raised more than $35,000 for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life. And it all started with a phone call from Kori’s mother Heather Cowan.

“Five or six years ago I got a phone call from Heather Cowan who wanted to know how young of a member I would take for my Relay for Life team,” Lively said. “Her daughter Kori wanted to join my team and I was kind of skeptical because she was so small and Heather said she would join the team with her. I’m glad I said yes because that little girl has been a blessing to all of us.”

Kori has been awarded the Youth Fundraiser of the year award every year since she joined the Relay for Life team. In 2007, the United Way asked Lively if she would be willing to present their award for its Volunteer of the Year award. She didn’t know if she would be able to fit the presentation into her schedule until they told her who the recipient was: Kori Brown. Lively said it was amazing that Kori was picked as the best volunteer out of the entire pool at such a young age.

“She’s a remarkable kid,” Lively said. “She does fundraising for Gary Brackett of the Indianapolis Colts. She’s just got her hands in everything.”

Kori’s fundraising efforts don’t stop there. Last year, Jennifer Schnurpel, Kori’s fifth grade teacher, and Cassandra Knolinski, Kori’s math teacher, worked with her to raise money for the American Cancer society. Schnurpel and Knolinski received a grant to teach their classes about the economy from the Indiana Council of Education for Economics through Purdue University.

The project involved making a product, selling it and donating the profits to a charity. Schnurpel and Knolinski decided to help Kori with her fundraising for cancer research. The class made about 1,500 hundred bracelets out of hemp and beads that change color in the sun. They sold for $3 a piece at the school and other auctions Kori put together. Schnurpel said the auction was a way for Kori’s classmates to learn more and be involved with Kori’s work.

“A lot of kids didn’t know what Kori did in the past,” Schnurpel said. “They knew she made Christmas cards, they knew she had an auction. A lot of the kids didn’t know what was wrong with Kori. To look at Kori you would never know that she’s a sick kid, she’s an amazing person.”

Kori has appeared on Lively’s radio show many times through the years. The attention has helped Kori with her cause, and Lively said the community knows about Kori and all the work she does. During the bracelet sale, Kori talked with the local newspapers about what she was doing and sparked a discussion about helping others. Shnurpel and Knolinski said some people in the community suggested that adults take a few pointers from Kori and her work.

“People were ordering 20 bracelets at a time,” Knolinski said. “We had the Kokomo Tribune and the Peru Tribune come out. That was great because there were editorials from adults that said ‘If these 5th graders can do this then you adults need to get out there and start doing something on your own too.”

Shnurpel and Knolinski are working on another project this year and, of course, Kori is involved. This time, the class is making Christmas cards for the Gary Brackett Impact Foundation. Lively said Kori is always trying to find ways to help others.

“She’s just a remarkable little girl,” Lively said. “I’ve never seen her down. I’ve never seen her complain. Those little wheels are always turning, she’s always thinking of ways to help people.”