By Caralyn Ryan, CNN
Hayley Orlinsky wanted to raise $200 for Chicago's Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's hospital by making colorful rubber band bracelets.
A few months and more than 8,000 bracelets later, Hayley, 7, has raised more than $20,000, helping the hospital purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and support research efforts.
The Chicago second grader began the project with an apparent knack for entrepreneurship -- she sold the most cookies in her Girl Scout troop last year -- and a desire to spread kindness in response to bullies who made fun of her height.
"When I was 3 years old, I got bullied for being the shortest kid in the class, and my mom wrote a book about it, and it was my moment I knew I wanted to spread kindness everywhere," Hayley said.