Earlier this year, eight-year-old Julian Lin from New York City traveled with his mom, Julie Meerschwan, to Maui, where they met and befriended a boat guide named Ryan. After last week’s devastating wildfires in Maui, Julian learned that his friend’s home was completely destroyed in the blaze and he decided to do something to help Ryan and other affected Hawaiian residents.
So Julian, who likes to call himself “Julian Business Man,” set up a lemonade stand in Central Park to raise money for his friend. But the enterprising eight-year-old didn’t stop there, he also created a crowdfund to support the effort with the money being evenly split between Ryan, Maui United Way, and the Maui Humane Society.
So far, Julian Business Man has raised more than $7-thousand and some of the funds have already been distributed. In an update to the GoFundMe page, Julian says they talked to Ryan, who’s still reeling from the loss, but he couldn’t stop crying over the love and support he’s been getting. But for Julian, giving is just part of who he is. “Generosity to me is like breathing,” he says, “If you make me not be generous, then I'll die.”