Stefan has just finished his third book about his San Francisco adventures with his pet rats.
As with his first two books, all proceeds go to build schools in Africa.
"I want to help the less fortunate," said Stefan, 13, at a recent book signing at a law firm in a downtown high-rise. "There are a lot of AIDS orphans in Africa."
For $5,000, he financed the conversion of an abandoned cowshed in Kakamega, Kenya, into a two-room school. He's now halfway through construction of an eight-room school for 100 children, the Stefan Lyon Academy, in the neighboring village of Bungoma.
Stefan is on a book promotion tour for the holidays, hoping to raise the last $30,000 to finish the school.
Stefan, who has his own nonprofit, the Stefan Lyon Foundation, knows that he's not a typical 13-year-old, but he also doesn't know what all the fuss is about.
For as long as his mother, Denise Lyon, can remember, Stefan was always a compassionate child.
"He'd sit with the kids who got bullied at school until they felt better," she said.
Part of his empathy is conditioned. Before he could walk, his mother would carry him on her back as she handed out lunches to the homeless.
By elementary school, Stefan passed out cookies and blankets to the homeless at the Civic Center from his red wagon.
He'd insert notes in the cookie bags:
"I'm thinking of you."
"God loves you."
He served drinks at Glide Memorial Church, and brought art supplies to a homeless youth center.
At 8, he wrote a letter to Mayor Gavin Newsom urging him to help the homeless.
Newsom had him in for a meeting, and asked the boy what he should do.
"Stefan told him, 'You need to be gracious,' " Denise Lyon said.
The mayor, somewhat stunned, presented Stefan with the seal of the city.
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