Eighth-Grader Donating Money from Business Towards Teacher with Breast Cancer

What do hair bows and breast cancer have in common?

In Oswego, they have Kylie Schimmel.

Kylie, an eighth grader at Thompson Junior High, makes hair bows and clips and sells them on her Facebook website, Kylie’s Creations.

The idea took root when Kylie's aunt was pregnant with a baby girl. Kylie said she made the baby a hair bow at the shower and everyone thought, “They were really cute,” said Schimmel. “And I thought, why not make a business out of this?”

Kylie makes the bows out of different kinds and all colors of ribbons, and attaches them to clips, barrettes and headbands.

Last year she donated part of the profits of her hair bows to supporting juvenile diabetes, which she said a friend of hers had and made her aware of the situation.

Now, Kylie's donating the money to her brother’s fourth-grade teacher, Amber Piechowski, at Fox Chase Elementary.

Alicia Schimmel, Kylie’s mom, explained that Piechowski recently underwent a double mastectomy for her stage two breast cancer.

“She is so young and she supports her husband and very young son,” said Alicia. “Any financial help we can get them would be a blessing.”

Kylie will be selling the hair bows to benefit Piechowski at the annual Mothers and More Resale Sale at Long Beach Elementary on Saturday, Oct. 13.

“I’m very excited they let me be a vendor at their sale,” said Kylie.

There will also be a donation jar at Schimmel’s table for Piechowski.

Originally Kylie had planned to donate the profits to the Kendall County Food Pantry, but said she still plans to do so later in the year.

She is also interested in doing a donation to a local animal shelter.

“I got my cat from a nonprofit,” she said. “And I have some really cute animal bows.”

To view Kylie’s Creations that will be available Saturday, check out her Facebook page.