WATERLOO -- David Jackson IV adjusted his dark beige suit before walking into Sam's Club to make the first pitch on his summer project for kids.

"I was afraid it's too long, but my dad said it looks good," he said, looking at his sleeves.

As a Waterloo West High School freshman, Jackson has only recently grown into his father's old suit. But he was about to enter the world of 501(c)3 organizations and tax code minutia.

As part of a service project for class, Jackson plans to put together summer packs for Lou Henry Elementary School students who are part of the free or reduced-price lunch program. They will include things like pens, pencils, worksheets, books and swim passes.

Jackson told the store managers his project was called S.O.S., or Success and Opportunities over Summer. The idea: Give parents and children the necessary tools to keep up with school work and stay busy over the summer break.

Then Jackson took a deep breath and cut to the chase.

"What I'm really here for is a money donation or a matching fund," he said, looking the store leaders in the eye.

On his way to Wal-Mart in Cedar Falls after the presentation, Jackson's mouth curved into a wide smile as he recalled the reaction from Sam's Club: "I think it's a great cause. It's definitely something we can submit to the foundation," said Sarah Kresser, marketing team leader.

Though it wasn't a promise for funding, Jackson was thrilled. An aspiring businessman, he has done his market research: He studied Lou Henry Elementary's annual report and discovered nearly 46 percent of its students enrolled last year were in the free or reduced-price lunch program.

That kind of dedication to a school project, which required only a 16-hour commitment, impressed the brothers of Lambda Theta Phi at the University of Northern Iowa.

Anthony Palomo, the fraternity's president, recently made a presentation with Jackson to the university's Greek Council. He hopes to double Jackson's original $5,000 goal by garnering interest in fundraising from other Greek organizations.

"He's what I like to see in high school students -- that kind of drive to do something not just for himself, but for others," he said. "I want to encourage him, show him that there are people out there willing to help him with his cause, and it's not just something he thought about that's impossible."

Contact Jens Manuel Krogstad

at (319) 291-1580

or jens.krogstad@wcfcourier.com.