Style Weekly

16 under Sixteen

Katie Dickerson, 13

Binfor Middle

March 16, 2005

The patients in CJW's Chippenham Hospital's pediatric ward know about Katie Dickerson's generosity.  Katie has developed a program called "Coloring 4 Comfort," in which she collects coloring books, crayons and similar items to donate to the pediatric ward.  She got the idea after her own brief  hospital stay. 

"I knew that the kids would get bored in the hospital, and I thought it would be nice to bring things to them," Katie says.  Since starting the program, Katie's collected more than 800 items, many of them purchased with her own money.

Katie also combines her love of belly dancing with her volunteerism.  As a member of the diverse belly-dance troupe called Jewels of the Oasis, Katie helps entertain residents in nursing homes and retirement communities across area. 

"Katie really enjoys dancing for the residents, as well as talking with them after the performance," says her mom, Tori Dickerson.

Katie has been belly dancing since she was 8; her mom also dances in the troupe.  "It's a wonderful way to meet people and get your exercise." Katie says.  "Its a lot of fun.  When I dance at nursing homes, I like to see the smiles on the people's faces.  It makes people happy, and I enjoy making them happy."

An honor student, Katie is involved in many programs at school, including Gifted and Talented, Writer's club, Mind Games and Johns Hopkins' Youth Talent Search.  She also takes art classes at the Hand Workshop and plays clarinet in the Binford Concert Band.