Debbie's Photos
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4/04: Jenny wrote... "Debbie, what an honorable choice you made to be a teacher. I hope your students know how lucky they are to have someone take the time you did to provide exactly what they need. Congratulations."
4/04: Damon wrote... "Congratulations, Debbie. The Katella High School students are so lucky to have you. Your profession is so important to the future of our world, and I just wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful things you do."
4/05: Anthony wrote... "Nice Job, Debbie. With all the recent education cuts recently, it's awesome to see a teacher who not only believes in her students, but a teacher who reaches out on her own to captivate on a blessing that Jenny Jones is providing."
4/07: Anne wrote... " Deb, I always knew you were the coolest teacher out there! Thanks for applying for this program to get these great books for your students. And thanks to Jenny for picking a winner!"
4/07: Debbie Stikeleather wrote... " Thanks, Anne and Anthony! I would be remiss if I did not thank my husband Jim for helping me to check for AR tests and prices. My son, Joe, retyped the original list into Word to make it easier for other teachers to use. Jim, Danny, and Joe are my heroes as they have always helped me to help my students. Thank you! I also want to thank Damon who had to retype the entire list again! Thank you! And Jenny, thank you for sponsoring this wonderful program. Debbie"
4/07: Terri wrote... "Hi Debbie, so many times nowadays students are not provided the level of education they need and deserve. Thanks for recognizing a problem and reaching out to do something about it. Congratulations!"
A high school teacher from Anaheim, CA, Debbie Stikeleather requested $3,000 for books for her students. In her application, Debbie told us...
"Nine years ago, after twenty years of teaching honors history and English, I decided to teach reading as so many ninth and tenth grade students struggle so much in this area. Without reading skills, students cannot succeed in any academic area. The solution is giving them books that they love to read."
And that’s exactly what Debbie did. She personally selected every title and they have been ordered and are on the way. Debbie was excited to tell her students, and we are excited to help.
May 28, 2008
It's not often I get to meet one of our heroes in person but today was the day. Debbie, together with fellow teachers Paul Spittler and Melissa Graham, took all their students to the Los Angeles Zoo today. Debbie had already invited me to come to the school in Anaheim, which I was not able to do, but she wondered if I might be able to meet everyone at the zoo since it's much closer. It was a chance to meet all of her reading students and I said I'd be there. So Damon and I headed for the zoo this morning and shortly after we arrived, three yellow school buses pulled up. I recognized Debbie right away from her picture, and then I climbed into each bus and what an awesome experience it was! I met over a hundred students, many of them holding the books they had received, thanking me for the chance to read. How about that? Kids who were thanking me because they could read more books! It's moments like this that make Jenny's Heroes so worthwhile. The class presented me with a huge Thank You card loaded with signatures.
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The best thing was an envelope I received, full of personal letters written by the students, each one saying thank you and telling me which books were their favorites and why.
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I read the letters on the way home and almost cried from joy. These books made a difference. Debbie Stikeleather made a difference. She selected books these kids can relate to and it worked. In talking to her, it's clear she loves her job and I hope her students know how lucky they are to have a teacher who motivates them and cares so much about their future... a future that's even brighter now, thanks to Mrs. Stikeleather. And thanks to Damon we have pictures of the whole get-together at the zoo.
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Alana's Photos
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4/04: Jenny wrote... "Alana, these children will benefit for years to come because of you. Congratulations."
4/04: Damon wrote... "Congrats, Alana. Your dream has come true and it's going to make a real impact in your church and community. Your gift will really help the children and spark their future."
4/05: Anthony wrote... "God Bless you, Alana!.... The children of the church will enjoy this new blessing. I'm sure this was awesome for your daughter Kelly to get this on camera. Plus thanks to Karen for making sure Alana was at her desk."
4/07: Terri wrote... "Hi Alana, the kids will never forget what you've done for them. This is truly a turning point in their lives. Also, the power of prayer is at work! Congratulations!"
4/11: Jeanine wrote... "Congratulations! This award epitomizes how wonderful you are! You’ve had your own trials but you still think of everyone else. You’ve been my friend and inspiration for many years now. Thank you! What a wonderful thing for the children. Love you, Jeanine"
Alana Butts is a legal assistant from Baltimore, Maryland. Her dream was to provide computers and other learning supplies to a small Christian school. The school is housed in the Pleasant Rock Baptist Church in Baltimore. Her request of $5,000 is to pay for kid-friendly computers, tables, chairs, and other art supplies. She says...
"The church needs many repairs but the most important is our need for children, our future. I would love to see the children have computers to help them be ready for the real world."
Alana was at work when she got the good news. Her co-worker at the law firm, Karen, made sure Alana was at her desk. Karen's daughter, Shelley, was standing by with a camera so this mom and daughter team was a big help. When Alana got the news, she was screaming into the phone! It was such a fun call to make. Alana later told us that the Pastor's wife was "floored" at the news. We also learned that 30 members of the church prayed for 30 days for a blessing and that this was it. What a great feeling.
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May 21, 2008
Alana tells us that she's received most of her new supplies and the tables are really cute! Also, the computers have been installed and by next week, all the new furniture will be installed, set up, and shined up! She promises to send photos.
Beverly's Photos
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4/04: Jenny wrote... "Beverly, it takes a big heart to volunteer. Congratulations on being a hero at your church."
4/04: Damon wrote... "Congrats, Beverly. I can't wait to see the photos of your church drama team and choir in their new robes. You're all going to look so sharp! Thanks for all that you've done for your church."
4/05: Anthony wrote... "Praise the Lord!..... Beverly, It is such a blessing for your church choir to be able to stand proud not only for their Lord but for their new robes. Plus many thanks to your husband Brian and all your precious beagles."
4/07: Terri wrote... "Kudos to you Beverly for having the faith to reach out for help in obtaining the beautiful new robes for your church. Everyone is grateful to you. Congratulations!"
6/27: Stacie wrote... "I am so sorry to hear about Beverly. She seemed to be the most unselfish and giving person. Her family has been blessed to have someone like that to love. My heartfelt sympathy goes to her family and the those she has touched."
BEVERLY PASSED AWAY ON JUNE 6TH, 2008.
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BELOW IS HER "HEROES" STORY.
Meet Beverly from Maxton, North Carolina
Beverly Warriax and her husband are raising a daughter and also a niece, both teenagers. Beverly requested $2,000 to purchase robes for their church drama team and choir. Beverly volunteers with the drama team and youth at the House of Prayer Holiness Church in Rowland. In her application, Beverly wrote...
"Our church Drama Team have worn the same robes for years, and the choir doesn't even have any robes. We are a small church with limited resources. My kids work very hard practicing and performing and have even worked at car washes to raise the money, but the money was taken and spent by the old drama leader when she left the church. They get so discouraged when they go to other churches and see their nice colorful robes. The ones we have now are falling apart and have been repaired over and over. If you don't know what a drama team is, let me try to explain: we use signing to music."
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Beverly's husband, Bryan, was a big help in setting up our surprise phone call. A newspaper reporter with the Fayetteville Observer wanted to be there, so Bryan had the reporter, Sarah, come to the house, telling Beverly she was with the fire department. I heard Beverly was getting a little suspicious but then I called to give her the good news. I'm not sure if she was laughing or crying but she was definitely excited, and surprised. The reporter, Sarah, told me afterwards that she had driven an hour and a half to get there and said there were no house numbers but a neighbor helped locate Beverly's house. The couple also raises beagles on their property. Beverly will use her $2,000 to buy robes and music equipment for her church drama team.
June 27, 2008
We received this email from our Hero, Alana Butts…
"Jenny, would you please pass my poem "In the Corner" along to Beverly’s family, for their garden has truly grown."
In the Corner (sent by Alana Butts)
There in the corner of the garden is a single white rose,
why it grows over there, nobody really knows.
The are no others like it, it is the only one,
I don't prune it or feed it, it grows strictly on sun.
I often wonder how it got there, who planted the seed,
the rose is beautiful, perfect, awesome indeed.
My garden is encased in brick around ever side,
it is long and narrow, not at all very wide.
I've planted many flowers, watered them one by one,
but in that very corner, is that rose, growing in the sun.
My garden is so special I treat it with lots of care,
I guess I should explain - my garden is my heart,
I grow my friends there.
I treat them all like flowers, shower them with love,
give them pieces of my heart, send prayers for them above.
But in that corner of my garden is that special rose,
I know why it's there and heaven knows.
It is a special rose, perfect as can be,
I grew it for my friend, who passed on before me.
It is for the friends who have already gone home,
that's why their rose is special, sacred and alone.
I keep a rose for them in the garden of my heart,
to remind me of how a friendship starts.
It starts off slowly, then blossoms so wonderful and rare,
just like a rose, one tended to with loving care.
So if you seem my crying one day, for no reason at all,
it's because my corner's grown larger and my garden gotten small.
The corner will have grown, white roses will be everywhere,
and heaven will be home for all the friends represented there.
June 17, 2008
It is with much sadness that we share the news of the passing of this wonderful hero, Beverly Warriax. We just learned that Beverly passed away on June 6th, having suffered a heart attack. Beverly's grant was the smallest we have ever done. She only requested $2,000 for choir robes for her church choir and drama team, and she was so excited when she got the good news. But the sad news that came this week was a surprise to everyone. We just received a note from family friend, April, letting us know that Beverly was sitting on her front porch with her daughter when she had a heart attack. Beverly's husband, Bryan, said they were all caught off guard and are dealing with it the best they can, one day at a time. Bryan asked for our prayers. Beverly is survived by her husband, Bryan; daughters, McKenzie Brewington and Candice Deese; father, Lawrence Deese; mother, Polly Deese; brother, Lawrence Deese; and sister, Ellen Locklear.
Susan's Photos
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4/04: Jenny wrote... "Susan, I admire you for making your life’s work that of helping those in need."
4/04: Damon wrote... "Hi Susan, Thanks for all that you've done for your center and your community. People like you certainly make the world a better place."
4/05: Anthony wrote... "Susan, no dream is ever to small. Just imagine how much more you can save and feed with the new awesome fridge. Congrats!"
4/07: Terri wrote... "Hi Susan, what a cool gift! (No pun intended). Seriously, you have a huge heart and are definitely a hero to those at the Arch Street Center. Congratulations!"
Susan Lilly is the Executive Director of the Arch Street Center in Lancaster, PA, which is a drop-in center & social club serving adults recovering from serious mental illness. In addition to recreation and leisure activities, the Center also serves a meal every day. Susan requested $3,000 for a new commercial grade refrigerator since their old one was failing. The good news was that she found the refrigerator she needed on sale! We were happy to help, in fact the unit is already installed and up & running. Susan expressed her gratitude this way...
"The new refrigerator will save the Center a lot of money for years to come. In the grand scheme of $25,000, the $1800 that we spent seems small. Some folks chuckled at me for not dreaming bigger, but the fridge is what we really needed, I told them. I just wanted you to know how much we all appreciate the donation."
We applaud the good work Susan is doing at the Center.