Like many girls their age, Anna Yaksich and Sydni Henley, love animals, eating ice cream, making crafts and playing games.

But, unlike many 9-year-olds, they figured out a way to enjoy all these things and raise a bundle of cash for the nonprofit animal shelter, Animal Friends.

During the past year, the two girls raised $1,200 by hosting game nights, ice cream socials and selling raffle tickets and baked goods.

They took their donation to the Ohio Township facility in December.

"I've always loved animals and so does Sydni," Anna, of Cheswick, said. "And we like to do things together and have fun. We thought we could help animals while we were having fun."

In 2008, Anna got the idea to help an animal shelter after learning from a TV show about puppy mills, places where dog owners overbreed their dogs and often force them to live in squalor before selling them off. The dogs often end up in shelters, and are left with behavioral and physical problems.

After learning about puppy mills, Anna called Sydni to suggest that they do something to help. Sydni was an easy sell.

"When Anna told me about it I was surprised," said Sydni, of Harmar. "I love animals and I don't want to see them get hurt."

The pair started brainstorming and came up with several ideas: hosting ice cream socials, organizing game nights and selling baked goods.

"We just thought, 'What would people like?' " said Anna, whose family includes a dog and a fish. "Me and Sydni like arts and crafts and we like ice cream. And we knew our friends do, too."

In 2008, they managed to raise about $200 for Animal Friends.

Last year, thanks in part to raffling off a donated quilt, the pair hit $1,200 in contributions. They had hoped to raise $400.

"I was like, 'Wow, we made a lot of money,' " said Sydni, who has three dogs and a cat. "We didn't think we would make so much."

Both girls passed out flyers at school advertising their fundraising events, which mostly were held at Anna's house. The school's PTA allowed the girls to hold a bake sale during a meeting.

While the price of the baked goods varied, guests who attended game night and the ice cream party were asked to give a $5 donation. With 15 to 20 attendees for the get-togethers, the money started to add up. Then when a friend of Anna's mother told her she knew a woman in Ohio who made quilts and often donated them for fundraising raffles, they had another way to collect funds.

As the money rolled in, Anna got a crash course in accounting by keeping track of donations in a notebook.

"Anna and Sydni can be so proud of their efforts to raise funds for Animal Friends ... It's wonderful when kids come forward to inspire others, help our homeless dogs, cats, and rabbits," said Dana Schultz, education coordinator for the organization.

After their success last year, both girls say they plan to try to collect even more this year: $1,500.

They also hope to add some new events, like a soccer party and movie night.

They also are working on a play based on the popular board game Candy Land. In the play, a group of young friends find themselves "sucked" into the game, said Anna, who hopes to someday be an author and illustrator. If all goes well, they may present the play as a fundraising event.

Sydni, who would like to be a veterinarian, said she hopes others work at raising money for organizations that help animals.

"If people love animals they should get involved and do something to help them," she said.

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