Posted Sep. 30, 2002

Student's Heavenly charity gives hats to cancer patients

By Terry Anderson
tanderso@greenbaypressgazette.com

Good Neighbor Name: Anthony Leanna Age: 11 Address: Suamico Occupation: Sixth-grade student at Lineville Intermediate School Words to Live By: "Anyone, no matter what their age, can make the world a better place by doing kind things." For information For more information about Heavenly Hats: heavenlyhats@aol.com

SUAMICO — Hats off to Anthony Leanna.

Earlier this month, President Bush took his hat off to Leanna by presenting him a President's Student Service Award, in honor of Heavenly Hats, the charity that Leanna created to donate hats to people who have lost their hair because of medical treatments.

So far, Leanna has collected more than 6,000 hats that have been donated to 60 different hospitals and clinics around the world.

With the help of his family, he's created a Web site that people can visit to learn more about Heavenly Hats.

"My grandma, Darlene Chartier, who lives in Sturgeon Bay, had cancer about three years ago and when I went to the hospital to visit her I saw all these patients without hair," Leanna recalls. "I wanted to do something. I wanted to have hats that they could pick out and wear."

Leanna began contacting clothing businesses and hat companies to tell them about his program.

"I bag them individually. And they're for women, men and kids," he said.

And there are all sorts of styles, from ball caps to jester hats.

"We're very proud of him," said Chartier, who survived her bout with cancer. "Since he's been little he's always been very caring and very concerned about everyone."

And Leanna plans to keep up with Heavenly Hats as long as there are people in need.

As for the picture of President Bush, it's framed and he'll probably hang it in his room.

"I think that we're more surprised than he is," Chartier said. "He takes it all in stride. But we're very pleased and proud."