VALPARAISO | Area teens were elbow deep in soap and water as they raised funds Saturday for children with developmental disabilities.

Jacob's Ladder, a pediatric rehabilitation center in Portage, benefited from a car wash held by the organization's junior board, which is headed by Valparaiso High School senior Jeremiah Withrow.

"We're raising money for a day camp for the kids," Withrow said.

Withrow said his mother, Cindy, a nurse at the center, approached him with the idea of planning fundraising events. Jeremiah Withrow enlisted the help of his best friend, Valparaiso High School senior Megan Ranegar, and the two joined other Valparaiso High School teens and students from Andrean and Portage high schools to form the organization's eight-person junior board, which meets once a month.

"I was all for that," Jeremiah Withrow said. "It's been fun just meeting new faces."

Ranegar said she got involved partly because she is interested in physical and sports therapy as a career.

"I've signed up to shadow a physical therapist at the center," Ranegar said. "I'm looking forward to being with the kids."

Earlier, the group hosted a movie night at the Ogden Dunes soccer field, which raised $300, and they hoped to raise another $500 at Saturday's car wash.

Kathy Kniola, of Ogden Dunes, is a Jacob's Ladder board member.

"I'm very impressed," Kniola said. "They've been able to get their friends out to do these things. They're getting nothing back from doing this other than feeling good to be helping a good cause."