After hearing about the story of Oneonta seventh grader Charlotte McKane, Council Director Paula Huntsman suggested that her girls get involved. The group donated about $200 dollars to Charlotte’s Circle, a community service project the 12-year-old created after collecting a ``considerable amount’’ of coins with her grandfather. She said she started wrapping coins with her grandfather at age five and once considered possibly starting a college fund with the money.

During a speech she gave at the banquet, McKane said her project has raised about $20,000 in seven years to help support nonprofits. McKane said her project has recently been handling four organizations, but the Fox Psychiatric Unit closed in April, so now she deals with the Family Service Association, the Violence Intervention Program Safe House and Catholic Charities Low Income Housing Program, which the project picked up a month ago.

``Each month I call the organizations to see what items they need,’’ said McKane in her speech to the sisters in Girls on the Run. ``Then I buy the items and deliver them to the organizations. Each month I give the supporters a report on what I have bought with all the money they donated. They also get an interest update on the project.’’

McKane said her project currently has over 60 supporters, and she believes the project is making a huge impact on the community.

Huntsman said McKane is a very charismatic young lady who has become very inspirational to the girls in her Girls on the Run program.

`` With Charlotte and these girls (the girls in Girls on the Run), we can all take a nap knowing the world is in good hands,’’ Huntsman said.

Huntsman said the 12-year-old made her chuckle while speaking to her about running her own business. One example Huntsman gave was about something most businesspeople take for granted, being able to cash their own checks. McKane cannot do that. Huntsman also laughed when McKane asked her, ``Do you know how long it takes to get a bill passed?’’

The Cooperstown Girls on the Run program began in 2001 by Huntsman. It is a life-changing learning program for girls ages eight to 12 years old.

The mission is to educate girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. According to the Girls on the Run Web site, the program has an innovative six to 12 week curricula. Activities in the Cooperstown group involves running, workouts, playing games and making healthy choices.

Huntsman has gone on to start similar groups at after-school programs in the county. For more information, contact her at 435-5298.

To contribute to Charlotte’s project, call 432-0692 or mail donations to her at 7 Highland St. Oneonta, N.Y., 13802.

All of the girls who participated in the Cooperstown Girls on the Run program were recognized and given awards at the banquet that were based on spirit, not just athleticism.