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Salem School Board honors Woodbury eighth-grader Grady Smith for fundraising and community donations
Summary
The board recognized Grady Smith, a Woodbury School eighth-grader who survived a serious illness and runs 'Grady's Gift,' which provides gifts and donated bicycles to children in treatment and local students.
The Salem School Board recognized Woodbury School eighth-grader Grady Smith at its April 22 meeting for his fundraising and donations to hospitalized children and local students.
Board Chair Pamela LaBarry introduced Grady and recounted that he was diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) in August 2018, underwent a bone marrow transplant shortly after diagnosis and has remained in treatment. LaBarry said Grady started “Grady’s Gift” to provide holiday gifts and incentive prizes to children on the bone marrow transplant floor at Boston Children’s Hospital and that he and his brother have donated anonymous BMX bikes to children in the Salem community with help from a generous donor.
Grady came forward to receive a plaque and his parents joined him for a photo. One parent said, “We just really appreciate it. It's a great honor. It's really important to Grady to do this every year, and he likes bringing it to the community. So we're really proud of him.” Superintendent Mara Palmer echoed board praise and thanked Grady for turning his challenges into positive action.
The board’s recognition cited Grady’s ongoing treatments at the Jimmy Fund Clinic and Boston Children’s Hospital and commended his “never give up” attitude and charitable work.
