Caleb Humphrey, 9, recently received a Kohl's Department Store Kid's Who Care Scholarship.

The son of George and Amanda Humphrey of LaPorte was awarded a $50 Kohl's gift card and a certificate recognizing a project he was inspired by his younger sister, Ruth, to start three years ago to help Ronald McDonald House in Chicago.

Ruth has a rare metabolic disease and can't metabolize carbohydrates and when she receives treatment at Children's Memorial Hospital the family stays at Ronald McDonald House. Humphrey found out that they collected tabs from pop cans and have corporate sponsors who match their value. He figured this was a way he could help his sister and Ronald McDonald House.

Humphrey enlisted family members, friends, the LaPorte Fraternal Order of Eagles and LaPorte American Legion to join in the effort. The response was so great at Lincoln Elementary School, where Humphrey attends, that the school made a large box for the main hallway labeled "Caleb's Pop Tabs".

"These kids have collected tabs for him religiously," said his mother. "When I go in to pick them up, there is a half-full large black bag full.

"People are so generous with their time, to think about ripping the pop tab off and saving it. I constantly have people giving me little Ziplock bags of pop tabs. Caleb is raising awareness and he's helping. He's constantly asking 'can you save pop tabs for my sister'."

A fourth-grader, Humphrey likes both science and math. He plays LaPorte Little League and is a Cub Scout with Pack 880. He's hoping to get involved with 4-H next year.

By Sue Bero, Times Correspondent

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