12-year-old boy sells bugs to help foster kids

Selling Bugs, you ask?

 

Temecula, CA, December 7, 2007.  These are not your ordinary creepy, crawly bugs.  They are original Pencil Bugs, which are the creation of young entrepreneur and philanthropist, Jason O’Neill of Temecula, CA.  Pencil Bugs come in eight bright colors with wiry antennas, googley eyes and black fuzzy bodies.  O’Neill has given them each a name and birth date, and has taught them simple tricks which you can read about on the Certificate of Authenticity that accompanies each Bug.  Pencil Bugs come on top of a #2 pencil but are removable so you can still use your eraser or sit them on your favorite pen, marker or even crayon.

 

O’Neill started hand-making and selling these colorful, bug-like pencil toppers when he was only 9 years old.  Shortly after his first big sale, he decided to make regular donations to help kids.  He chose HUGS Foster Family Agency because they assured him his money would go directly to buy toys, clothes, school supplies, and whatever else the foster kids might need.  O’Neill was adamant about not giving to a charity that used his money to pay people’s salaries.  Bugs 4 HUGS 4 Kids quickly became one of his slogans.

 

Customers from all over the country have heard about his business and charitable efforts from newspapers, magazines, ABC’s Nightline online, and even an appearance on NBC’s game show 1 vs 100 as their “kid mogul”.  O’Neill has received the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and a Young Philanthropist Award.

 

Most of O’Neill’s sales come from his website www.pencilbugs.com but he also holds local sales events.  His Bugs have been sent as far away as Lethoso, Africa for school children sponsored by World Vision.

 

Pencil Bugs aren’t the only product in this young entrepreneur’s business.  He also has laminated bookmarks which match the eight Pencil Bug characters and custom t-shirts.  O’Neill is currently collaborating with his mom on a book series featuring his Pencil Bugs and has a board game prototype and video game concept in the works.