"I alone will do it."

This is what Adam Selmon told his mom Kathryn after she read him an article about Make A Difference Day in USA Weekend magazine.

Even though his mom offered to help him come up with ideas, Adam decided to make a difference he would play the drums.

He'd play his drums for Liberia.

That was in October.

Now, months later, Adam has been awarded $10,000, money he will donate to the Norman-based Shine Foundation, an organization created by his adopted siblings Zac and Shannon, in which the entire Selmon family participates.

Make a Difference Day is a national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.

For 15 years, USA Weekend magazine has encouraged everyone and anyone to participate in the annual event held on the forth Saturday of every October.

Paul Newman, who donates all after-tax profits from the sales of his products to various educational and charitable purposes, supports Make A Difference Day by donating $10,000 each to 10 selected projects.

This year, Adam, 12, was chosen as one of those 10. Of the 10 winners, Adam was one of the youngest, raising the least amount of money and doing the simplest of actions. But, his effort might have made the most difference.

He raised $207 by playing his drum in Andrews Park in Norman. Having just arrived in America a few months before, after Kathryn and Dewey Selmon adopted him, Adam knew exactly where he wanted the money to go -- to help the orphanage he left behind in Liberia.

"I was just really proud of him for having the guts to do it," Kathryn said.

As soon as she found out he had been chosen as one of the 10, Kathryn went to pick him up from school, taking him to get chicken fried rice as their celebration.

In April, USA Weekend and The Norman Transcript will sponsor a local awards ceremony where Adam will receive his award and $10,000 donation.

Rainbow Town