Blake Wainwright sets an example — not only for his peers, but for his elders, as well. He saves the money he earns during the year, and in one check, donates his hard-earned cash to the UNC Children’s Hospital Promise Foundation. A donation of $1,100 to the Children’s Hospital is not so unusual. But a donation of $1,100 is highly unusual when it comes from a 6-year-old.

For the past three years, Blake has done exactly that — donated his money to help other children. The first year, his donation totaled $425. Last year, it was $755. This year, the amount continued to grow. What started as a gesture of appreciation for the care his baby sister, Brynn, received when she underwent surgery at six-months old to correct cranial sutures that had fused too early, has become an annual demonstration of generosity.

“Ever since he was a really young age, he’s been very compassionate,” said Carrie Wainwright, Blake and Brynn’s mother. “If someone is sick or hurt; he’s always helping others at school.”

Blake earns his money the usual way for a 6-year-old: chores, good report cards, doing good deeds, birthday and holiday gifts. But when he’s offered the choice between spending the money on himself, or putting it away for donation, he invariably chooses to help others, Wainwright said.

“About 90 percent of the time he says, ‘I want to help the kids,’ and it goes in his little piggy bank,” Wainwright said. “All in all, it’s all his decision.”

Blake serves as an inspiration to others and in doing so, inspires family, friends, even complete strangers, to donate to the cause, Wainwright said.

“We don’t publicize this at all,” Wainwright said. “The first year it was run in the paper — we had somebody we don’t even know in Washington get our address and send a very kind letter and a donation. … (People realize) if he can do it, others can do it too, which is why I think more and more people reach out every year, which he is super excited about.

“We’re just super proud of him,” she said.