8-year-old gets ‘Buddy Bench’ installed at elementary school to help lonely kids

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) - An elementary school in Las Vegas now has a new “Buddy Bench” on their playground thanks to one considerate student.

At Ober Elementary School, 8-year-old Phoenix spent last month trying to raise enough money to build the bench for her school.

She said she wanted the bench to be a place where students could sit during recess to let others know they need a buddy to spend time with.

“I felt it before where I didn’t have anyone to play with, and it’s not a good feeling,” Phoenix said.

After KVVU aired the first story, Luis Perez reached out and said he wanted to build the bench for Phoenix.

“I have kids also. I know sometimes kids get lonely and I know not all kids are willing to approach people and want to make a friend, so I think this is an awesome idea,” Perez said.

It took Perez about a week to build the bench and have it delivered to the school to surprise Phoenix.

“I was really looking forward to seeing her reaction and how they were going to feel about it,” Perez said.

Phoenix said she can’t wait for the bench to make a difference.

“Now kids can be really happy, and they will have a friend to play with,” she said.

Phoenix also says that with the funds she raised to build the bench, she will be paying it forward to help another school have its own “Buddy Bench.”

Copyright 2025 KVVU via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.