FOR A GOOD CAUSE -- Kevin Eisenberg

--Story by June Casagrande; photo by [tk]

Actions speak louder than words, but Kevin Eisenberg, a Newport Beach

teenager donating his time and money for American service personnel, is

more interested in reaction.

“I’m hoping that people will see what I’m doing and do it themselves,

like a chain reaction,” he said.

For six consecutive weekends, the Corona del Mar High School junior is

selling flags in front of the Mithrush store on Newport Boulevard at 17th

Street.

Using money he earned over the summer as a parking lot attendant for a

Huntington Beach boutique -- and with a little help from his parents --

the 16-year-old plans to donate all the proceeds, including his initial

investment, to service personnel. He chose the Navy-Marine Corps Relief

Society, which provides financial assistance to people serving their

country away from home, as his charity.

“It started when we were looking at an old picture album my

grandfather took when he was in the Navy aboard the USS Los Angeles,”

Kevin said.

He never knew his grandfather, but he was intrigued by the photos and

his memory. Further stirred by the East Coast terrorist attacks, Kevin

wanted to find a way to make his own contribution to the cause of

freedom.

He began searching on the Internet for organizations that could use

his help. When he came across information about the Navy-Marine Corps

Relief Society, whose government agency status forbids soliciting

donations, Kevin found the place where he wanted to make his mark.

“A lot of the people serving our country are having a really hard

time, a lot need money and because of anthrax, many of them aren’t even

getting mail,” he said. “This seemed like a perfect way to help and a

good way to honor my grandfather.”And when his six weeks have passed and

his 10-to-5 shifts selling flags in front of the discount store are over,

he hopes his efforts will live on.

“I can’t raise much money, but maybe if someone sees me doing this,

they’ll want to be involved too,” he said. “If someone else gets involved

because I did this, that would make it all worthwhile to me.”